Caritas Zambia

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INTRODUCTION

The Parliamentary Liaison Program (PLP) is one of the sub programmes under the Governance and Human Rights Programme in the Justice and Peace Unit of Caritas Zambia. PLP was set up in 2001 on the premise that of the three arms of government.

The purpose of the Programme is to enhance the democratic right of civil society in members in exercising their democratic right of contributing to the parliamentary policy and legislative making process in Zambia. Experience with community advocacy work has shown clearly that most of the issues impacting at community level derive from types of public policies formulated and pieces of legislation enacted. The elected representatives are expected to put these issues across to the decision makers both in Parliament and Government. The constituencies, on their part, are supposed to put pressure on the elected representatives to ensure that this is done. It is in rare cases, if any, that a community has made an attempt, through its Member of Parliament, to alert Parliament that the provisions of a given Bill, being debated, are disagreeable in part or in whole or that a particular policy is affecting them adversely. Thus the people are not participating in, and, consequently, not influencing policy formulation.

OVERALL PROGRAMME GOAL

PLP is designed to bridge this gap between the House of Representatives (Parliament), the Representatives (M.P) and the people they are supposed to represent. The public needs to have an input in the formulation of all laws. Thus PLP seeks to assist communities that feel a particular law would benefit them' lobby their MP to vote for it.

PLP also tries to inform the public of particular proceedings and bills being passed in the House regardless of whether or not they are of particular interest to the public.

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Enhanced participation of citizens in public policy management

Improved Local governance and parliamentary systems
Engagement of PLP in networking with like minded organizations
Caritas Zambia’s staff, Dioceses and pastoral agents’ appreciation of the link between faith and development enhanced
ACTIVITIES

PLP is and has been working on issues of, but is not limited to:
 

  • Sensitization on elections, forums in form of “Meet your candidates”, during presidential and general elections.

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  • Holding various public forums, to accord the general public an opportunity to hear the views of their leaders and also to air their views on various political and parliamentary issues.

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  • PLP works on various governance issues such as the Constitution making process in Zambia, decentralization in Zambia and the Africa Peer Review Mechanism process etc

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  • PLP is involved in civic education and advocacy work. This is done through training in Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy Techniques.
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  • The programme carries out research into significant national governance issues that affect the general populace.
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  • On-going community forums, round table discussions and public forums.

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  • Radio programs on various political and parliamentary issues.
     Attendance of parliamentary sessions.

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  • Monitoring the on-going Parliamentary Reforms.



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Caritas Zambia