Harnessing the potential of Zimbabwe's rural economy

ILO NEWS (Harare) : The meeting held in Harare convened local stakeholders and regional experts to discuss the importance of rural development as a key driver for Zimbabwe’s economic growth.


Opening session of the Knowledge Sharing Forum: (l. to r) Mr Ngoni Masoka, the PS Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Mr Callisto Jokonya First Vice President of the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe; Mr Japhet Moyo-the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions; Mr Alexio Musindo, the Director of ILO Country Office for Malawi, Mozambique and Malawi(also representing the Regional Director for Africa, Mr Aeneas Chuma) and Ms Hopolang Phororo, Director for the ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia.

At the official opening, the Permanent Secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka, of the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare said the Zimbabwean government’s priority is to increase the participation of rural communities in productive economic activities by exploiting opportunities around them. There were also efforts by government to increase youth participation in the economy at large through skills development for youths and women. In addition, the government was reviewing the national Employment Policy, in addition to other initiatives targeting climate change, poverty, environment degradation, HIV/AIDs and child labour. The labour laws are also currently being realigned to create a conducive environment for the development and the creation of decent work in rural Zimbabwe, he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Office Director, Mr Alexio Musindo, the Director of ILO Country Office for Malawi, Mozambique and Malawi (also representing the Regional Director for Africa, Mr Aeneas Chuma) urged African governments, including Zimbabwe, should put into action their commitment to sustainable development and Agenda 2063 through the transformation of the rural economy. Further, he said that the goals to eliminate hunger and fight poverty will not be achieved unless poverty is directly tackled in rural settings where it is deepest, most widespread and persistent.

Mr Callisto Jokonya, the 1st Vice President of EMCOZ speaking on behalf of business said that the rural economy was the bedrock of any economy and the private sector was a major beneficiary of this economy. Through the supply of raw materials the rural economy enabled normal production and the various value chains creating enormous markets for goods and services. “Ignore the rural economy at your own peril” he stressed.

The ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo pointed out issues of politicization of rural development and the absence of labour law coverage in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. He decried the absence of job security, social security and the failure of the labour laws to be relevant to the rural economy and communities.

“Most of the productive members of the rural community spend their productive years dormant. Educational institutions have been producing unproductive and unemployable graduates” Moyo added.

In her welcome message to participants of the two day Forum, Ms. Hopolang Phororo, the ILO Director for Zimbabwe and Namibia Country Office, cited the importance of the rural economy. ‘We need a paradigm shift where the rural economy is associated with various sectors or rural economies (e.g. rural tourism, manufacturing, ICT industry); investments; all levels of government (national, regional and local) and various local private, NGOs, etc.).

The goal should be competiveness of rural areas, an increase in the value of local assets and exploitation of unused resources. A holistic/integrated approach is needed in the rural economy to create jobs and ultimately to alleviate poverty. Land reform, supportive policies and integrated development policies are some of the building blocks that are necessary to ensure that inequalities are reduced; incomes and economic opportunities are increased and capacity is enhanced.’


Some of the participants following the deliberations
The Forum is running under the theme “Promoting rural development through decent work”, also intends to generate serious conversations on rural job creation, sustainability, security and overall a thriving Zimbabwean rural economy.