Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) Coordinates activities of the Civic and Voter Education Cluster. the cluster made of —- organisations who conduct CVE in Zimbabwe. The main purpose of the cluster is to create a platform for CSOs to share information, develop strategies aimed at improving coordination in civic and voter education interventions. through the cluster members shar training of facilitators, methodology and information education and communication materials.materials. The coordinated approach in CVE enhances broader reach and coverage thereby contributing towards increased citizens participation in electoral and governance issues.

The purpose of the democracy education taskforce is to bring together members of ZESN and the provincial co-ordinating teams to discuss the methods and strategies for carrying out an effective grassroots based democracy education outreach programme in order to enhance citizen participation in issues of governance and democracy. Activities carried out by the taskforce include, training of trainers, production of training manuals, materials such as posters, flyers and calendars, community theatre, videos, public meetings, print media inserts, radio and television programmes.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this programme is to enhance citizen participation in issues of governance and democracy.

Specific Objectives

The programme’s specific objectives are:

• To inform citizens to vote from an informed basis.
• To increase citizens’ knowledge about democracy and electoral processes.
• To provide active citizenship participation in democratic processes and elections in particular.
• And to facilitate the participation of youth and other marginalized groups in political processes.

Target Groups

The electorate, youth, students, women’s groups, political parties, influential community leaders, the disabled and other marginalized groups.

Activities

• Conducting community based workshops, drama and  public meetings.
• Designing, producing and distributing campaign materials such as flyers, t/shirts, caps, billboards.
• Developing and inserting of democracy and electoral adverts, cartoons and supplements in national and community newspapers.
• Recording and producing radio and TV adverts and programmes.
• Providing training and refresher courses to provincial task force and community educators.
• Mounting special projects for youths, women and other groups.

Key Result Areas

Under the Plan, the following results will be sought:

• Increased voter turn out during the local authority and parliamentary/presidential elections.
• Increased citizen participation in social, economic and political affairs.
• Increased confidence of citizens in the electoral process.
• Fewer voters turned away on Election Day.
• Reduced incidences of political violence.
• Fewer assisted voters.
• Increase in the number of registered voters.
• Reduced incidents of papers rejected by nomination courts.
• Reduced number of spoilt ballot papers.
• Peace, development and economic prosperity in Zimbabwe.
• Improved relations between Zimbabwe and the international community.

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