ILO regional director in Zimbabwe

Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter—
A high-RANKING International Labour Organisation official is in Zimbabwe on a three-day working visit and will meet various stakeholders to discuss issues of mutual concern. ILO assistant director-general and regional director for Africa Mr Aeneas Chuma, a Zimbabwean, was recently appointed to the position by ILO director-general My Guy Ryder.

He will meet the country’s leadership, key representatives of United Nations agencies, and development partners.
“Mr Chuma will also meet the national tripartite constituents which are Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe and officials from other line ministries,” read part of the statement from ILO.

Mr Chuma is expected to visit the Africa Regional Labour Administration Centre in Harare, the ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and some field projects supported by his organisation that have benefited the youth.

He was leading a delegation which recently attended a summit on labour in Windhoek, Namibia. The summit was held under the theme: “Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development.” The meeting was held in preparation for the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Employment which is scheduled for September in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Mr Chuma has an extensive record in development and with the United Nations. In November 2012, United Nations secretary-general Mr Ban Ki-moon appointed him deputy special representative for consolidation of democratic governance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

During the assignment, Mr Chuma also served as the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Humanitarian Co-ordinator and Resident Representative.

ILO is a unique tripartite structure which gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes.