admindialogue platform a legislated entity, a senior official has said.
Labour and Social Welfare permanent secretary Mr Lancaster Museka said the social partners had agreed that the TNF should be a legislated body similar to the National Economic Development and Labour Council of
South Africa, which is an internationally reputed social dialogue platform.
“Members of the technical committee will be meeting at the Troutbeck Hotel in Nyanga from July 12 to 14 to look at legislative principles for the TNF,” he said.
“That is the stage we have reached,” he added, referring to overall progress in reviving the TNF following formation of the inclusive Government.
Mr Museka said the Nyanga meeting would be following up on the one held in Kadoma in May this year where it was agreed to legislate the TNF, establish an independent secretariat, implement the Kadoma Declaration and mobilise resources for TNF activities.
The Kadoma meeting noted that the greatest strength of the South African model was on its legislative authority, and its comprehensive rules of procedures as articulated in its constitution.
In July 2009, a local tripartite delegation undertook a study visit to Nedlac in South Africa.
Mr Museka said once the technical committee finished drawing up the draft legislative framework for the TNF, it would be taken to the Attorney-General’s Office for scrutiny to ensure that it did not infringe the Constitution.
From the AG’s Office, the draft framework would be taken to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, from where it would go to Parliament for debate.
Established in 1998 when the country was in the throes of the economic meltdown precipitated by economic sanctions that Western countries had imposed, the TNF has played a critical role in the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe as it brought together the Government, business and labour to deal with the plethora of challenges.
A turning point in the TNF was the high- level launch of the Kadoma Declaration by President Mugabe in February last year.
Before that, the TNF had been faltering since its inception due to mistrust among the social partners.
The Kadoma Declaration, which the social partners signed in September 2009 following protracted negotiations that began in 2001 in an attempt to address macro-economic challenges facing the country including the “country risk factors”, outlines the respective actions each of the tripartite partners should take on various issues. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter