Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
ZIMBABWE and South Africa’s social development officials are meeting in Bulawayo today to develop an implementation matrix for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries in December last year.
The meeting follows the signing of the agreement between Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and South Africa’s Department of Social Development, which seeks to strengthen co-operation in addressing social welfare challenges affecting vulnerable communities.
Key areas of focus include substance abuse, rehabilitation and reintegration, with the two countries seeking to strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery support systems.
The neighbouring countries will also exchange policies and share best practices on substance abuse demand reduction, rehabilitation and the reintegration of affected individuals into their communities.
Under the agreement, the two countries will further co-operate in supporting persons with disabilities through policy exchanges, resilience-building initiatives and capacity development in the local production of assistive technologies.
The MoU also prioritises sustainable livelihoods through the promotion of income-generating opportunities and initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations.
Child protection is another key component of the agreement, with the two countries seeking to strengthen mechanisms covering children on the move, emergency situations, alternative care and adoption. The two parties also undertook to strengthen social support to persons living with HIV where they will exchange social welfare interventions and share community based care models.
There is also an undertaking to improve care and protection of older persons.
The meeting is expected to provide a framework for translating the commitments outlined in the MoU into practical interventions in the two countries’ social development sectors
