Online Reporter
The Herald, 20 May 1983
THE Ministry of Manpower Planning and Development is concerned at the “artificially high” professional standards being set by some professional institutions, and intends to legislate against this.
Addressing students of the University of Zimbabwe Business Studies Association on Wednesday, many of whom are worried that they will not find jobs after graduating, the permanent secretary, Dr Ibbo Mandaza, said:
“We are concerned with the question of relating professional organisations like yours to the overall goals of the country’s manpower needs.
“We are working on legislation which seeks to relate these professional institutions to the country’s manpower objectives.
“We are engaged in constant battle, which we are winning, with these institutions which set artificially high professional standards.”
These standards were being exposed, especially at a time most Zimbabweans were returning home from abroad and being denied jobs because they had trained at an institution not favoured by these professional organisations.
“One does not need to be a member of any professional Institution to get a job. This requirement was a kind of system to screen people on a racial basis.
“We need to look very carefully at some of these guilds and unless they conform to what we think is right, we will fight them,” said Cde Mandaza. At one time, he said, the country had 411 unemployed professionals because of these bottlenecks. This country had never had a tradition of training people in business studies because it depended on promotional immigration which brought in expatriates.
Until independence professionals were well selected and certain jobs, especially managerial, were reserved for whites both in the private and public sector, he said.
Lessons for today:
- Professional standards and institutions should align with the country’s overall manpower needs and development objectives. This ensures that the workforce is equipped to meet the nation’s priorities. There is need for professional standards that are fair, inclusive, and aligned with national development goals, as well as the importance of government oversight in maintaining these standards.
- The Government is willing to legislate against professional institutions that set artificially high standards, which can create barriers to employment. This demonstrates the importance of regulatory frameworks in ensuring fair and accessible professional opportunities.
- Understanding the historical context of employment practices, such as the preference for expatriates and racial biases in job selection, is crucial. This context helps in addressing and rectifying past injustices to create a more equitable job market.
