ILO Regional Director for Africa on official visit to Zimbabwe

Harare (ILO News) - Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, the new ILO Assistant-Director General and Regional Director for Africa, went on his first official visit to Zimbabwe to meet the leadership of the country, key representatives of UN agencies and development partners.

During his visit from 27-30 April, Mr Chuma discussed with the national tripartite constituents (Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe) as well as with other senior officials from line Ministries.

The ILO Senior representative met with Hon. Nicholas T. Goche, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to discuss issues of mutual interest including youth employment and women empowerment; the up-scaling of on-going technical support of the ILO such as the Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development; the implementation of the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry on Freedom of Association; strenghtening social security; and coordination within the ILO Africa Group.

Together with Mr Alphonse Tabi-abodo, the Director ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe, Aeneas Chuma paid also a courtesy visit to the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment Hon. Francis Nhema. Discussions covered various themes including skills development of the youth to address the mismatches in the labour market, the potential role of increased vocational training centres and targeted technical education.

On top of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) based in Harare, the ILO representative also visited the Country Office for Zimbabwe and some field projects supported by the ILO that have benefitted the youth.

Prior to this visit, Mr Chuma was in Windhoek, Namibia where he led the ILO delegation which attended the Special Session of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission Meeting of Ministers. The main theme of discussions in Namibia was “Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive Development”. Further discussions were engaged on the modalities for preparation of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Employment in September 2014, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.


The ILO Head for Africa has an extensive record in development and with the United Nations. In November 2012, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed him Deputy Special Representative for Consolidation of Democratic Governance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). During the assignment, Aeneas Chuma also served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative.

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