Examining Civil Society Organisations and Zambia’s Governance System: Challenges, Successes and Opportunities

• Author(s): Elina Mwenya ; Sanny Mulubale
• Paper ID: 1704241
• Page: 215-224
• Published Date: 13-04-2023
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 6 Issue 10 April-2023

Abstract

Although civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial in promoting efficient and effective good governance and maintaining democratic ideals, their role in political, social and economic development of any country seem to be problematic. This study sought to examine civil society organisation’s positionality in Zambia's Governance System, with a specific focus on Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) and Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP)’s political participation. The study consisted of 32 participants. A qualitative approach was utilised and a case study design was followed. In depth interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from CSO staff, government officials and the general public. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the collected data. The study established that CSOs focus on different areas and play an important role in the Zambian governance system. The study also found that civil society organisations sometimes work with the government in the promotion of good governance by offering checks and balances and prompting transparency. The study also identified different strategies CSOs use in the promotion of good governance, these include advocacy as well as sensitization. The study also found that there are a number of challenges faced by CSOs in Zambia in pursuing their duties, among them are: poor funding and lack of financial resources which was an impediment to the effective service provision of CSOs and the bad perception by the government which describes the current state of CSOs as inadequate and weak. The main conclusion of this study is that due to many CSOs’ over-dependence on foreign donor funding they have become weak over the years. This weakness simply means that CSOs organisations do not perform their duties; as a result, good governance may be difficult to achieve.

Keywords

Governance, Positionality, Civil society Organisations. Political, participation

Citations

IRE Journals:
Elina Mwenya , Sanny Mulubale "Examining Civil Society Organisations and Zambia’s Governance System: Challenges, Successes and Opportunities" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 6 Issue 10 2023 Page 215-224

IEEE:
Elina Mwenya , Sanny Mulubale "Examining Civil Society Organisations and Zambia’s Governance System: Challenges, Successes and Opportunities" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 6(10)