PRUDENTIAL OVERSIGHT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES KEY TO DEVELOPMENT

The recent revelations by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) regarding alleged abuse of development aid funds disbursed by the organisation to some of the Civil Society Organisations in Zimbabwe raises serious issues regarding the true intention behind the proliferation of these organisations in recent years as well as their accountability in the managements of donor funds. The diversion of funds from the primary objective by those entrusted to administer such funds does not only undermine the primary objectives behind such funding initiatives and the very existence of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) but also put the image of the country into bad perspective, particularly at a time when serious dialogue is needed to move the development agenda of the country forward.

The important role of CSOs Society Organisations as a watchdog of the government in its exercise of governmental functions should not be overemphasised. However, one important lesson that comes out of USAID allegations is the realisation that States no longer have a monopoly in undermining the human rights agenda - rather, CSOs can also be accomplices too. For institutions that pride themselves as firm defenders of the human rights agenda it is quite saddening that their actions seem to be undermining the human rights movement by using these pro democracy institutions for their selfish agendas. In effect, these allegations seems to fortify what the former President of Zimbabwe Mr R. G. Mugabe had always reiterated, that is, the existence of some of these NGOs (some of which he described as fly-by-night briefcase NGOs) is just to line up their pockets with donor monies but with no regard to the national interests and the interests of the constituents they purport to represent. In the wake of these allegations, it becomes a reality which is difficult to rebut. This however does not necessarily mean that we should dismiss the important role of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for surely they do have an integral role in the development discourse of the country. What is, however, needed is a more comprehensive monitoring mechanism to ensure that the funds allocated to the CSOs reach the intended beneficiaries or are utilised for the realisation of set objectives.

There is no doubt that Non-Governmental Organisations have played (and continue to play) a significant role in social, economic and political processes in Zimbabwe particularly so in areas of development and poverty eradication as well as in the area of human rights protection and promotion. Most of these Civil Society Organisations were established in the late nineties in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and have significantly contributed towards exposing the human rights abuses of the Mugabe-led administration especially beginning in the 2000s at the height of the politically charged land reform programme and the violent 2002 elections. Using their transnational networks with other NGOs from across the globe they helped to bring Zimbabwe's deteriorating human rights situations to the attention of the world. Such expositions have actually helped in mobilising support from the international community which has greatly helped the country through various avenues. By way of example, the country has benefited immensely in terms of humanitarian assistance particularly in areas of education, health (such as the fight against the spread of HIV and also in containing the outbreaks of dieses like cholera and typhoid) and also bringing to the fore the large scale human rights abuses that were occurring across the country. The exposure of these human rights abuses by the Mugabe regime and the subsequent naming and shaming strategy through transnational networks by these CSOs  has to some extent helped to open the democratic space allowing for the participation of the people in the political processes of the country and also ameliorating the plight of the general populace.

However, in the midst of these good initiatives by many courageous men and women to promote and protect the human rights of the ordinary people, there have also risen some gluttonous individuals within this movement masquerading themselves as human rights defenders when in actual fact they are undermining the human rights movement through abuse of donor funds for their own benefit. Many individuals have established brief case "civic" organisations which they have used to source for donor funds under the guise of fighting for democratisation, protection and protection of  human rights in Zimbabwe yet in actual fact they have their own selfish agendas- the sponsoring of exquisite lifestyles with funds earmarked for development projects. In a country where unemployment levels are hovering beyond 90%, most people saw the avenues of creating these fly-by- nights NGOs as the only gateway to economic emancipation. Many took advantage the West's obsession with the regime change agenda in Zimbabwe and the attendant  lack of strong accountability systems from the donor community to divert funds to the unintended objectives. There are many allegations that the majority of these donor funds were used towards administration costs with little trickling down to the community projects supposed to be financed including allegations of compilations of work-done reports of nonexistent projects. Against all these background, many development experts, journalists and political commentators have raised serious questions regarding the primary role of the most Zimbabwean NGOs - are they genuine in their fight for human rights, democracy and development or they are actually purveyors of human rights struggles and actually guilty of what they were accusing the government of. These fundamental questions have once again brought to the fore since the overthrow of former President Mugabe and the subsequent installation of President Mnangwana through a military led transition.

The revelations by the USAID are actually a microcosm of the macro challenges besetting the CSOs in Zimbabwe. In my interactions with a number of friends working within the CSOs community, both the local domestic one and the international ones, many have lamented about serious challenges of abuse of funds and rampant corruption with the end result that much of the funds for projects are diverted from their intended destination thereby robbing the ordinary Zimbabwean population of the potential developmental benefits from these projects. By way of example, a certain colleague who used to work as a Senior Programmes Officer with a particular International NGOs was sacked from his employment before the expiration of his contract after he unearthed a scandal whereby this NGO had purchased a medical machine which did not meet the specifications agreed upon by the partners  as part of a project for a mission hospital in some rural part of Zimbabwe . This medical machine was earmarked for a project to assist in the management of HIV/AIDS by measuring CD4 count tests for the rural populations living with HIV for purposes of placement on anti-retro therapy. According to him the machine substandard machine was supplied with several of its components missing and when he raised red flags with the regional procurement office - the next day he was told that management has agreed that he goes on leave pending the calculation of his benefits for the remaining months of the contract or employment! What was quite interesting in this particular incident is that the way events unfolded were actually indicative of the fact that it was actually a racket involving the individuals from the  local Office of the NGO, the Ministry of Health officials and the NGO's regional office outside Zimbabwe! Resultantly, the Ministry of Health commissioned an incomplete and sub-standard  machine which would never serve the community needs yet it will be recorded that in this particular year, an international NGO assisted this particular community by providing a medical device that would assist in HIV prevention and management! A whole community was robbed of an important development initiative due to the greediness of a few individuals.

We should however not despair and lose hope! As reiterated above, CSOs are an important component in the development discourse of any country. They are relevant in holding the government of the day to account. What is, however, key is to ensure that there is greater accountability and transparency regarding their operations particularly in the utilisation of development assistance funds. How can this be done? First and foremost, there is need for the donor community develop strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks in order to hold the NGOs to account for the funds that are disbursed to them for implementation of projects. For quite a long period of time, most development partners have been disbursing funds but without stringent monitoring frameworks thereby creating serious avenues for abuse of funds by some of these NGOs. Secondly, though this may be viewed with disdain in some sections of the NGO community, it may be important for NGOs for make available information regarding the quantum of funds allocated to them for development projects to their line Ministries in order to ensure that Government also keeps track of how the funds are being utilised. At one point, the government once proposed the enactment of a piece of legislation go govern and monitor operations of NGOs but this was completely rejected as a serious intrusion to the independence of the NGOs. It is submitted that such legislative initiatives were not without merits despite the political misgivings around them at that time. There may be need to revisit them once again in a quest to find a lasting solution to the challenge of abuse of funds within the CSOs community.

By way of conclusion, it cannot be assailed that CSOs have an important role to play in any given country's development discourse especially in holding the government of the day to account for its shortfalls in, development and governance issues including human rights protection and promotion. However, if there are no strong accountability and monitoring frameworks this sector can actually be a source of abuse for human rights through diversion of funds from the intended development projects. The Government of Zimbabwe and the donor community need to come up with deft strategies that ensure that local and international NGOs play a positive role in the socio-economic and developmental processes of the country. Accountability gaps currently existing in the management of funds should be bridged to ensure that communities really benefit from all forms of aid coming into the country. Those in the CSO community should have a moral compass and appreciate that the funds being channelled to them are contributions from taxes for those in the global North some of whom are not even leading decent lifestyles within those parts of the world!