PROGRAMME II: Democracy and Governance Programme (DGP)

PROGRAMME II: Democracy and Governance Programme (DGP)

A Zambian society which upholds tenets of democracy which promotes people participation, rule of law, media reforms and respect of human rights .The programme engages with legislators, Ministry of Justice, Electoral Commission and CSOs on laws governing the electoral process; building the capacity of the dioceses to conduct voter education; engaging political parties on promoting women’s participation as candidates in the electoral process;

advocacy for the full implementation of the Decentralisation Implementation Plan (DIP) at the national level through the Decentralisation Secretariat; monitor the process and conduct engagements based on the results from the monitoring process, build the capacity of all 11 dioceses to engage the local government on these issue and creating platforms for debating party manifestos and monitoring the 2021 tripartite elections.

DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME (DGP) - FOCUS AREAS

A Zambian society which upholds tenets of democracy (promotes people participation). The DGP areas of focus are:

  • Parliamentary Work: The focus is on promoting a parliament that enhances citizens’ engagement in its three functions of legislation, oversight and representation. Further, a mechanism to hold the MPs accountable and to assess their performance will be developed and implemented.
  • Constitutionalism: The focus is on advocating for policies and laws in the Constitution that protect and uphold the fundamental human rights and dignity of the human person. Further, the programme will work on the various subsidiary laws that will need to be changed following the enactment of a new constitution.
  • Electoral Process: The focus is on the promotion of a credible electoral process that ensures free and fair participation of various players in the electoral cycle
  • Decentralization: The focus is on advocacy for the implementation of the National Decentralization Policy as well as civic education on the policy.

About Caritas Zambia

Caritas Zambia is a Catholic Organisation that is an integral structure of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB). The Conference of Bishops is a permanent grouping of Bishops of a given nation or territory that jointly exercises certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of their territory. This is done for the sake of effective evangelisation. To promote the principle of the common good which the Church offers humankind, especially through forms and programmes of the apostolate which are fittingly adapted to the circumstances of the time and place, is the role of Bishops.