adminthe three social partners to fully implement the role and purpose of social dialogue towards eradicating poverty and turning around Zimbabwe’s economy.
Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa said this on Wednesday during the official launch of a publicity campaign for the Kadoma Declaration – “Towards a Shared National Social and Economic Vision”.
The three social partners, the Government, employers and workers signed the Kadoma Declaration on February 26, 2010. President Mugabe officially launched the Kadoma Declaration last year.
Minister Mpariwa, said: “We realised that the TNF needs to establish a fresh sense of its role and purpose in order to sustainably fulfil the aspirations of its constituencies.”
She said the TNF was at the verge of being reconstructed which would see it becoming a creature of stature with its own full time secretariat.
“We have already made considerable progress towards these reforms though we are yet to reach the mountaintop of our desires,’ she said.
She also said Government was committed to implementing the declaration in its entirety.
“There is political will and as tripartite partners we have agreed to depoliticise the workplace in order to create a conducive environment necessary for workers and employers to concentrate on productivity which is a key ingredient for national economic recovery,” the minister said.
She added that the Kadoma declaration is aimed at addressing in totality problems bedevilling the country such as social disintegration and political polarisation.
Minister Mpariwa said the adoption of the Kadoma Declaration was a great milestone in the development of social dialogue in the country.
“I am even more encouraged by the initiatives taken by the parties in nurturing the declaration. Last year in October I attended the Emcoz congress, during which business undertook to adopt inclusive business models aimed at ensuring participation of all Zimbabweans in the main stream economy,” she said.
She noted that business launched the Zimbabwe chapter of the United Nations Global Compact, which is globally recognised by business across the world.
She said social partners would also continue to work shoulder to shoulder in labour law reforms where all parties have demonstrated willingness to achieve win-win solutions through making compromises in the spirit of dialogue and build a better future for Zimbabwe.
Minister Mpariwa also said the declaration calls for coherence in the enunciation of policies.
“This is due to the existence of two dominant paths particularly in the area of economic development policy. In one of the paths economic growth is shallow and empty. The UNDP warned against this flawed growth in its Human Development Report of 1996. The UNDP termed it jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless and futureless growth,” she said.
Business representative Mr David Goofier who is the president of the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe also echoed the same sentiments reassuring the nation that business was committed to fully implementing the declaration and stood solidly behind the initiative.
He noted that peace and stability has been a product of the social dialogue process.
“The glue that will harmonise, galvanise and hold together our common efforts and endeavours is tripartism. We need responsible leadership all the way that will encourage Government, business and labour to continue talking to each other and driving the whole process towards a shared vision together,” he said.
Mr Govere said Zimbabwe has suffered and no one should afford the recklessness that disturbs the peace, tranquillity and stability.
“We owe it to our children and the generations after to pass on a heritage of love, unity and prosperity. The worlds is running out of resources while Zimbabwe’s potential remains largely untapped. If we look at mining alone out of hundreds of minerals present, the top five coal, gold, diamonds chrome and platinum will sustainably lift the economy,” he said.
Mr Govere who is also the Business Council of Zimbabwe’s current chairman added that even the attractive climate, tourism and rich soils could also make the country regain its bread basket status.
“The peace we have with each other and the way we are striving for a respectable democratic environment and a sound governance framework catalyses the creation of an investment climate capable of driving in capital, whether domestic or international, which in turn acts as the flame to stimulate growth.”
He said he was confident the economy would surpass the US$10 billion mark and can still surpass the US$20 billion GDP mark by 2014.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Japhet Moyo, who represented labour, said the declaration should be fully implemented in its totality for the benefit of the country. The publicity launch was attended by secretary for labour and Social Services Mr Lance Museka, International labour Organisation representative, the Mutare District Administrator Mr Cosmas Chiriga among other senior Government officials.
Online Reporter