JUBILEE-Zambia:  BEYOND DEBT!  BEYOND 2000

THE ANNUAL GUIDE FOR JUBILEE-Zambia in 2001

Join Jubilee-Zambia in action this year!  The activity plan for 2001 is now ready.  A product of a two-day planning session, the plan shows the main research, education and advocacy activities tailored to achieve faster and effective debt cancellation for poverty eradication in Zambia.

The following shows the main areas of focus, activities, target audience and key messages of Jubilee-Zambia for the year.  These issues are based on the main challenge identified by the Secretariat during the planning session.  The secretariat felt that it would be a challenge to keep the momentum and pressure for debt cancellation, especially with the changes in the global Jubilee movement by end of the Jubilee year 2000.

However, keen to achieve the Jubilee goal, the secretariat is highly optimistic and committed to ensure that the call continues until the demand is fully met.  This is based on the endorsement by our national and local partners that the Jubilee cause is not time but goal bound!  The debt burden and poverty are still with us in Zambia!

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNUAL PLAN

The Goal

To promote debt cancellation that assures poverty reduction - in short "cancellation" for "eradication."

The Programmes

1.RESEARCH

Objective

·         To deepen the analytical understanding of Zambia's debt situation and its consequences for the people.

Areas of Inquiry

a. Provide full picture of cost/benefits of HIPC

b. Provide clear basis for "Debt Mechanism" proposal based on the following

Þ      Current legal status quo of debt negotiations

Þ      Comparative data from other countries

Þ      Realistic recommendations for Zambia's Debt Mechanism

c. Provide comparative record of debt payments and social allocations.

d. Provide estimates of Zambia's history of total borrowing and total repayments.

e. Conduct Opinion Poll on awareness of

Þ      Debt Campaign

Þ      Loan procedures

Þ      "Relief" measures (example HIPC)

Þ      Use of relief resources

Co-operate with partners on research on "Arbitration" and "Tribunal" mechanisms

2.EDUCATION

Objective

·         To build wider awareness of Zambia debt situation and its consequences for the people.

Activities

a. School Sensitisation Essay Contest

b. Public "Debt Forums"

c. Media Personnel Sensitisation

d. Community Drama

e. Play - Drama

f. Regular Region Contact

Þ      Communication

Þ      Meetings

Þ      Information dispatch

i. Video Project

j. Cartoons

k. Reading materials

l. Electronic Communication

Þ      Web-site

Þ      E-lists

 m. Radio Drama

Þ      Community Radio

Þ      National Radio

n. Faith-based reflection

Þ      Conference

Þ      Infusion

Þ      Ecumenical Steering Committee

Þ      Pastoral letter

 o. End of year Evaluation

 3. ADVOCACY

Objective

·         To promote, on the basis of understanding and awareness, policy changes in the debt situation and its consequences.

 Activities

a. Put in place the debt mechanism

b. Build strong popular push for debt cancellation

 c. Push for advances in:

Þ      Apartheid Debt

Þ      Reparations

Þ      Tribunal and Arbitration

 d. Rationalise loan procurement procedures.

 e. To achieve these objectives, strategic networking will be very important.

 FOCUS

Key issues for the year

·    Debt Mechanism - consultation with key stakeholders and adoption of the proposal by Government

·    Popular participation - strengthen and intensify public pressure for debt cancellation, debt mechanism and political/Government will

·    Loan procurement procedure - pressurise for an appropriate and usable procedure: more accountable, traceable, transparent and participatory

·    Advances in policy change - National financial management and poverty reduction.

 MESSAGES

For Jubilee-Zambia, much of the efforts will aim at making the following key messages heard, accepted and acted upon:

·         Jubilee-Zambia: Is still alive

·         Debt - the current status and its consequences on the poor.

·         Total Debt Cancellation for poverty eradication

·         Debt Mechanism for debt relief resources

·         HIPC - the implications for majority Zambians

·         PRSP - The critique

TARGET AUDIENCE

Priority

·       National and local Partners: NGOs, Church, Students groups, and Media, grassroots, commerce and trade associations, labour movements and academic institutions.

Additionally

·         Public - citizens (literate and illiterates)

·         Government (policy makers and implementers) - Ministers, technocrats

·         Political (activists) - Opposition parties, Members of Parliament

·         International Policy Makers - International Financial Institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors and creditors.

·         External Partners - South and North

 MEDIA/INFORMATION CORNER

This year, Jubilee-Zambia is preparing for the following key international and national events:

INTERNATIONAL

 1. The G7 Meeting

In Genoa, Italy (21st to 23rd July 2001).  Jubilee-Zambia intends to undertake wide publicity activities on radio, television, newspapers, and drama.  Pre- and post Genoa conference on "What Genoa means to Zambia" will be held.  Before this, Jubilee-Zambia will hold discussions with various stakeholders such as the Government, international community, IFIs national representatives and its local partners.

2. Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

In Lusaka, Zambia (July 2001).  Jubilee-Zambia aims to bring the "debt" problem to the continental table through the Organisation for African Unity - Africa needs to act on the debt problem now!  Before this summit, Jubilee-Zambia intends to organise a debt forum on which issues of Apartheid-caused debt and the impact of debt on Africa's development will be discussed.  It is the hope of Jubilee-Zambia that national dignitaries will present at this forum.

3. Consultative Group Meeting

Though not much information is available about this meeting, Jubilee-Zambia is planned to take an active role, as it did last year, in the Government/Donor talks.  The key message is that Zambia needs total debt cancellation because the current HIPC package does not solve the poverty crisis the country is facing.  Jubilee-Zambia also intends push for the need for Government to accept the debt mechanism as conditionality for donor aid.

NATIONAL

1. Africa Freedom's Day

25 May 2001: Jubilee-Zambia's reflection on the commemoration still questions the "quality" of freedom that Africa celebrates and will also interpret the implications of the Genoa meeting for Africa.  Africa must be free from debt in order to be truly free.

2. Independence Day

24 October 2001: Will mark the 37th Independence Anniversary of Zambia.  Jubilee-Zambia critically analyses the independence of the country.  Is Zambia independent to decide its destiny?  Do the Zambian people feel and see their independence when poverty levels are so high and they still have to feel the pain of servicing debts?  What is their role as citizens of the country, what is the role of Government as a representative of people and what is the role of Zambia's external partners in making people not just know about their independence but feel and see it!

3. Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Even though the actual date has not been announced, Jubilee-Zambia's message for the electoral process lies on two main points: The importance of the debt mechanism and poverty reduction-centred loan negotiations.  As part of promoting good governance, Jubilee-Zambia will be encouraging people to select responsible leaders and for aspiring candidates to show serious commitment to good management of loans and debt relief resources.

To all our Partners

We would like to encourage our partners to participate in our activities for this year.  The struggle for debt cancellation still goes on!  For more details on any particular area of the plan, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Secretariat.

Chrispin Mphuka                                      Pete Henriot
Co-ordinator:  Jubilee-Zambia                   Director: JCTR
April, 2001

JUBILEE-Zambia TIME PLAN FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS

QUARTER

Programmes / Activities

Second Quarter
(April -June 2001)

Research

Þ      Provide a full picture of the costs/benefits of HIPC

Þ      Finalise work on the Debt Mechanism

Þ      Provide a comparative record of debt payments and social allocations

Þ      Way forward on Arbitration and Tribunal

Education

Þ      Planning for information flow

Þ      Prepare brochures on Jubilee-Zambia, HIPC, Debt Mechanism and PRSP

Þ      Drama - preparations on Genoa

Þ      Pilot Student Sensitisation (5 schools)

Þ      Video Project

Þ      Media sensitisation - Debt Mechanism, Genoa, HIPC

Þ      Debt Forum - Apartheid-caused Debt

Þ      Regional Groups - information sharing - Debt Mechanism, HIPC, Genoa, Debt

Þ      Website Changes

Þ      Evaluate Kamoto

Advocacy

Þ      Launch the Debt Mechanism Campaign

Þ      Get the Debt Mechanism in Political Party Manifestoes

Þ      Put the Debt Issue on the OAU agenda (work with partners in Africa and former Republican President)

Þ      Put the Debt Mechanism in PRSP

Þ      Network with external partners on Genoa

Networking

Þ      "Focal Team" meeting

Þ      Ecumenical Steering Committee Meeting

Þ      Link with ACTSA on Apartheid-caused debt

Þ      Participate in Southern meetings

Þ      Prepare visitors programmes to Jubilee-Zambia

Þ      Meet with CCJP/EJU

Third Quarter
(July to August 2001)

Research

Þ      Estimates on the Borrowing and Repayments of loans

Þ      Opinion Poll

Education

Þ      Regional sensitisation

Þ      Community Drama

Þ      Debt Forum (Pre and Post Genoa)

Þ      Positions of political parties on the Debt Mechanism

Þ      Radio interviews - community radio  on Genoa

Þ      Conference:  Theological Reflection on Debt and Poverty

Advocacy

Þ      Genoa Rallies

Þ      Contact External Partners to push for debt cancellation for Zambia at Genoa

Þ      Meet with the Minister of MOFED and IFIs on Genoa

Networking

Þ      Prepare for the Southern Regional Meeting

Þ      Focal Groups

Þ      CSPR Contacts

Þ      Southern meetings

Þ      Host visitors

Þ      Work on links with the Jesuit

 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Ways of monitoring and evaluating the Project

·         Need to conduct regular (quarterly) reviews of programmes

·         Conduct reviews of every major event undertaken and notes on the review should be taken.

·         Meet once in a quarter for evaluate the performance of the Project

·         Follow-up financial regional spending and activities

·         Evaluation and strategizing Conference by end of 2001.

·         Opinion Poll results

·         Conduct research on the overall performance of the Project since establishment.