“No local NGO shall receive any foreign funding or donation to carry out activities involving or including issues of governance” Worldwide democracy and governance issues are seen as critical in ensuring democracy and free and fair elections yet the Bill seeks to curb efforts that are made by civic society. Furthermore, electoral processes are by their nature quite expensive, more so given that in Zimbabwe, Parliamentary and presidential and local authority elections are held separately. A total of 15 by-elections have been held throughout the country since 2000, and ZESN and other civic bodies have been instrumental in observing them. Civic Society Contributions 1. The training of observers, regardless of political creed is a necessary expense that cannot be discarded. For elections to be credible locally independent and professional and unbiased monitors and observers are required. Lack of funds will threaten the quality and calibre of observers. 2. ZESN started its Electoral Reform Project in which with the Electoral Supervisory Commission were observers (who were represented in the Advisory Committee of the Project) in 2003. It is through this project, national and international lobbying and dialogue with the government that we have managed to set the debate of electoral reform alive. Wide consultations have been made at local level as well as organizing and hosting meetings and conferences. The process has been quite expensive. 3. At the moment, there is no realistic alternative funding from the government, and there is no legislation that makes it a prerequisite for government to provide NGOs with the necessary funding. For example at the moment there is no provision for funding for democracy and human rights activities e.g. the Electoral Supervisory Commission and the Ombudsman are currently underfunded. 4. The government itself, through its various institutions and departments, has benefited, and continues to benefit from foreign funding through taxes, creation of jobs, revenue creation through advertising in public media. This goes to show that foreign funding is quite integral for the development of our country. 9