Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and South Africa yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on social development in Harare, strengthening bilateral cooperation in child protection, drug and substance abuse, social welfare and collaboration with civil society, non-profit organisations and development partners.
The MoU also provides for the exchange of technical expertise between the two sister republics in social development.
The agreement was signed by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo and South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Gladys Tolashe.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Skills Audit and Development Minister Professor Paul Mavima, who represented Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Zimbabwe’s Consul General to South Africa Mr Eria Phiri, Acting South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe Maita Ravhudzulo and other senior Government officials.
The MoU builds on a similar agreement signed in 2011 and is aimed at strengthening coordinated responses to shared social challenges while deepening people-centred cooperation for sustainable development.
Addressing delegates, Minister Moyo said the MoU was a strategic policy instrument to enhance bilateral collaboration in addressing complex and interrelated social development issues through coordinated, evidence-based and results-orientated approaches.
He said Zimbabwe and South Africa share a longstanding relationship grounded in historical solidarity, economic interdependence and regional integration.
He said the MoU provides an opportunity to elevate cooperation from ad-hoc engagements to structured policy dialogue, joint planning and systematic knowledge exchange.
Minister Moyo indicated that social development remains a critical pillar of sustainable national development, underpinning human capital formation, social cohesion, labour productivity and economic resilience.
Despite progress achieved by the two countries, he said challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, social exclusion, HIV and AIDS, drug and substance abuse, children on the move and climate-related vulnerabilities continue to exert pressure on social protection systems and service delivery mechanisms.
He said the MoU responds to these challenges by establishing a comprehensive framework for cooperation in policy formulation, programme design and implementation, institutional capacity building and applied research.
Minister Moyo said cooperation will cover social protection systems, child and family welfare, child rights, drug and substance abuse response, youth development, disability inclusion, gender equality and community development, while strengthening data management, monitoring and evaluation and policy analysis.
“From a national policy perspective, Zimbabwe’s participation in this MoU firmly integrates and dovetails with the National Development Strategy 2, which recognises social development as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction.
“Flagship interventions in social assistance, labour market support, community development and social services are being continuously reviewed to enhance targeting efficiency, sustainability and impact.
“This MoU also reinforces our collective commitment to regional and continental development frameworks, including the Standard Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Minister Moyo said the MoU aligns with President Mnangagwa’s emphasis on serving the people, particularly the vulnerable, and that its successful implementation will depend on effective governance arrangements, clearly defined institutional roles and sustained political and administrative commitment.
“Zimbabwe stands ready to work closely with the Government of the Republic of South Africa to operationalise these agreements through practical, scalable and impact-orientated initiatives,” he said.
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to policy coherence, institutional collaboration and evidence-based decision-making, adding: “Through this partnership, we are confident that our two countries can enhance the effectiveness of social development interventions and deliver meaningful improvements in the quality of life of our citizens.”
Ms Tolashe described the signing of the MoU as a milestone, particularly amid rising geopolitical turmoil, narrow nationalism and trade cohesion.
