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Authority with skill – October 2013 (By Moses Ngulube)

Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) was introduced to World Vision Zambia (WVZ) in 2009 with the support from the Department for International Development (DFID) through World Vision UK. Due to limited financial resources, CVA, until November 2012, was only implemented in three Area Development Programs (ADPs): Keembe, Lufwanyama and Mumbwa and focused exclusively on two sectors: health and education. CVA intervention sites (ADPs) recorded, among many other things, deployment of additional medical and teaching staff to several facilities; construction of more staff houses (for health and education personnel) and enhancement of partnerships between service providers and service users. It’s against this backdrop that several community members, Government officials, WVZ Field-based and National Office staff resolved to roll-out CVA to other ADPs utilizing ADP funds.

To achieve the foregoing ambitious objective, the Advocacy and Operations Teams organized regional CVA Training of Trainers (ToTs) targeting community representatives, Government representatives from the ministries of Health and Education and WVZ Staff. WVZ is sub-divided into three regions: Central, Northern and Southern.

The first regional CVA ToT took place in Southern Region, Choma district (3-7 December 2012). Mr Josias Muzyamba from Twachiyanda ADP in Kalomo district was one of the 24 participants. During introductions, Mr Muzyamba, knowing the weight of his traditional role and title, willfully concealed his designation and settled for being a mere community representative. On day two of the ToT, Matrida Mukombo, WVZ staff, then with Twachiyanda ADP, whispered to one of the workshop facilitators “Mr Muzyamba is the Prime Minister of Chikanta Chiefdom”. The facilitator’s eyes dilated; he sat upright and wondered why Mr Muzyamba decided to remain incognito. The facilitator then gave the floor to Matrida to officially introduce her guest. Mr Muzyamba graciously stood up said “I am honored that World Vision through Twachiyanda ADP invited me also to this important training. I will learn as much as I can so that when I go back to my Chiefdom I will share my newly acquired advocacy skills with other members of the Royal Council.” He then turned and looked at the facilitators: “please do not abandon us after this training; it is when we will be in the community that we will need your guidance most. Kindly make time to pay us a visit”. He cleared his throat, thanked everyone for their interest and active participation and sat down. A jubilant accenting round of applause sealed the traditional leader’s words.

Seven months after the training (July 2013), a World Vision delegation drove to Chief Chikanta’s Palace. The objective of the visit was twofold: to pay a courtesy call and prepare for a regional integrated learning lab on community Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (cPMTCT) and Advocacy. As discussions advanced, the Prime Minister, who was present at this meeting again said, “I must acknowledge the December advocacy training was very good. However, I had serious challenges to grasp all the essential elements of CVA during that training. When I came back, I revised all workshop materials and made sense out of them. Thereafter, I mobilized the Royal Council, got some fuel from Twachiyanda ADP and embarked on engaging with service providers throughout the Chiefdom”. He paused and smiled before he continued, “I am delighted to inform you that a lot of things have happened as result of our advocacy activities, among other things:

• Fairly consistent availability of HIV Testing Kits in facilities that reported stock-outs
• Medical staff with bad attitude were transferred and new ones deployed
• ART clinic is now operating twice a month
• Government in collaboration with Society for Family Health now organizes periodic mobile Male Circumcision (MC) services
– More than 60 men have been circumcised
– A clinical officer at Chilala Health Centre has been trained to perform MC and a theatre is being set up
• The Royal Council has developed by-laws to promote couple counseling
• We are promoting the school re-entry policy: 7 girls and 10 boys have gone back to school

As the Prime Minister highlighted the above results, other Royal Council members nodded their heads rhythmically in agreement. “The training was good” the Prime Minister repeated his earlier statement and concluded “we are asking for more technical support to move our advocacy agenda to another level. We have the passion for the work that we do but what we are lacking are the requisite skills to engage more effectively with decision-makers.”