Deepening social contract critical to growing economy, development

THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Zimbabwe’s social contract, revealing that the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) has already concluded its Social Contract, which is now undergoing Cabinet processes.

This was revealed by Cabinet Ministers who addressed delegates at the Zimbabwe Tripartite Negotiating Forum Global Summit in Victoria Falls, a historic gathering which ended on Thursday and brought together Government, business, labour and international partners to deliberate on the future of social dialogue and inclusive economic development.

A social contract is an agreement among key stakeholders that includes Government, business, and labour on shared rights, responsibilities and obligations designed to promote economic stability, social justice and national development.

For Zimbabwe, such a contract is critical as the nation pursues industrialisation, investment, and decent work under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Addressing delegates, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Cde Edgar Moyo, underscored the significance of the TNF and the concluded Social Contract.

“When the Tripartite Negotiating Forum was established, it was built on a simple but powerful conviction: that Government, business and labour, sitting as equal partners around one table, can resolve more, build more and deliver more for our people than any of us could achieve alone,” he said.

“To that end, the TNF Zimbabwe has concluded its Social Contract, which is now going through Cabinet processes.”

Minister Moyo emphasised that the TNF has, for years, provided a platform for social partners to engage on matters of national economic and social importance, exchange perspectives and seek common ground.

“This week, we open that platform to the world,” he declared.
Minister Moyo said the significance of the summit goes beyond the number of countries represented as it is an opportunity to bring diverse experiences and perspectives into one conversation, and to consider how countries, institutions, businesses, and workers can respond collectively to global economic and social changes.

“Africa stands at the threshold of what has been described as a US$3,5 trillion investment frontier.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is being built, transaction by transaction into a major continental market,” Minister Moyo said, adding that Zimbabwe, through NDS2, has set out its own pathway within this broader agenda, with emphasis on industrialisation, beneficiation, digitalisation, investment and decent work.

He stressed that investment flows where there is confidence, credible institutions and predictability.

“This is one of the reasons why social dialogue remains important,” said Minister Moyo.

The summit’s four pillars – inclusive growth, decent work, beneficiation, and investment promotion were described by Minister Moyo as interconnected dimensions of the same development challenge.

He urged participants to move from diagnosis to delivery, ensuring the Victoria Falls Declaration reflects common purpose and actionable commitments.

“This summit must, therefore, be an opportunity to move from diagnosis to delivery,” said Minister Moyo.
Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde July Moyo who

represented the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube who was in New York, highlighted the historical roots of tripartism in Zimbabwe.

“From the Kadoma Declaration by Zimbabweans to form Tripartism as an instrument of economic development, we believe that when we come out of here, our declaration will be enhanced by us as Government taking the mantle and enacting a social partnership that is signed by all of us: business, labour, and Government,” he said.

Minister Moyo revealed that seven Government ministries engage in tripartism led by the Ministry of Finance. He welcomed the presence of all social partners and stressed the value of learning from international practitioners.

“We are happy that we are learning from practitioners who have walked the journey that has taken some of them out of economic difficulties into the sunshine of economic development. From East, to Morocco, to China, all of us must learn from each other,” he said.

The Victoria Falls Summit ended with the Victoria Falls Declaration which is expected to enhance commitments to stronger social dialogue, inclusive growth and shared prosperity.