On 10 October 2024, I sat down with Bhekinkosi Moyo, Director of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment and a Professor at the University of Witwatersrand’s Wits Business School, to reflect on the contribution of ZimRights to Zimbabwe’s struggle for human rights, democracy and governance. I am grateful to Bheki for taking time for this deep dive and has now published the interview.
Among many questions, I address several issues, including issues of civic leadership, shrinking civic space and people power. I am frank in reflecting on the civic space, arguing that the attacks on civic space do not only emerge from authoritarian establishments but it also elite capture. We cannot confront this threat if we cannot name it.
I speak about ZimRights Shifting Power to the People Strategy as a response to increasing threats against communities by powerful forces.
Human rights violations are committed by powerful actors in the world who possess unimaginable economic and military muscle, I said.
How do we build people power to match this ruthless power?
The Shifting Power to the People Strategy is a response to this reality. But we also look inside as professionals in service to the people movements. We ask ourselves how much we are contributing to this elite capture and the alienation of the communities we represent in the agenda that we are pushing.
We take a walk through the many ZimRights initiatives and products that seek to support communities in shifting power.
Please watch the full interview with Bheki here and let me know what you think.
If you enjoy the interview and want to learn more about the work of ZimRights in empowering communities, read more on www.zimrights.org.zw