Women activists clash over civil society working with Govt

By Francis Emorut                                                                 

Women activists have clashed over civil society organizations close collaboration with government saying the former should not fall in trap as they would be compromised by the latter.

Wahu Kaara, a Kenyan activist pointed out that it was high time civil society actors started working with governments across Africa if citizens' lives are to improve remarkably.

"We should not view states as enemies but should work with government to build strong nations and bring meaningful change to citizen's lives," Kaara, the executive director of Kenya Debt Relief said.

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The state minister for economic monitoring, Henry Banyezaki (second left), Florence Nazare, the head of capacity building program New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and Omolara Balogun (third left), the head of policy advocacy for West Africa Civil Society Institute listening to the Uganda National NGO Forum executive director, Richard Ssewakiryanga during the closure  of the Pan African conference on financing development at Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe.

But a Ugandan activist Irene Ovonji-Odida disagreed with her fellow activist noting that interests and stakes involved in the relations between the two should be understood clearly.

She warned that civil society risks to be pocketed by government to protect its interests.

"We should not be in the armpit of government. We shouldn't abdicate our watchdog role," Odida said.

Odida who is also the executive director of FIDA-Uganda pointed out that, civil society actors should be bold enough to criticize governments when they go wrong.

"When governments go wrong, civil society should hold them accountable and we shouldn't abdicate the role of checks and balances," she said.

She emphasized that it's the interests of citizens to guide the collaboration between two and not government.

The activist made remarks during the closure of a conference on financing for development at Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe recently.

The conference hosted by Reality of Aid Africa Network in collaboration with Uganda National NGO Forum attracted delegates from 25 African countries.

It aimed at addressing new challenges in mobilization of effective financial resources for sustainable development and to promote and champion the interests and concerns of African citizens.     


Woman activist, Irene Ovonji-Odida also the chief executive officer of FIDA-Uganda addressing participants.
 
The Kenyan activist was supported by Henry Banyezaki, the state minister for economic monitoring who said civil society group should engage parliamentarians to reach executive so as to influence policy and cause change.

The minister lauded the Kenyan activist saying he was motivated and inspired by her presentation.

"Civil society organization shouldn't delink themselves from government. There should be effective collaboration between civil society and government," Banyezaki said.
 
Banyenzaki urged civil society to take debate to the village level about sustainable development goals (SDGs) which are replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) this September.

He said all governments that fall under United Nations general assembly have made commitments to end hunger and poverty and ensure inclusive growth and good governance.