Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter 

Proposals from the Tripartite Negotiating Forum, the body that brings together Government, employers and workers, must promote national cohesion and sustainable development instead of the interests of just one sector, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima, said yesterday.

Prof Mavima, who is the TNF chairperson, told the main TNF meeting held in Harare that although the forum had not been meeting regularly as scheduled, its principals had been meeting frequently to continue fostering dialogue and updating each other on emerging issues.

“We are all aware of the challenges our nation is facing and it is important for the TNF to take centre stage as the vehicle towards effectively addressing these challenges through promoting unity of purpose and vision for a stable and prosperous Zimbabwe,” said Prof Mavima.

The meeting was considering proposals from the recent meeting of the technical committee in Mutare, where action on specific problems seen in the last few months took centre stage.

“The technical committee meeting convened in Mutare was premised on the possibility of coming up with a social contract. However the desire to find convergence on the pertinent issues affecting our economy took centre stage of the discussions. 

“It is my fervent hope that we are not far from finding one another towards coming up with that social contract as espoused by the TNF Act.”

Prof Mavima said the TNF meeting had been called to afford all stakeholders opportunity to look at the committee’s proposals and to find areas of convergence and recommend concrete proposals to Cabinet.

The objective of the meeting was to consider issues that included the erosion of wages and salaries, currency exchange and stabilisation, as well as the stabilisation of prices.

The meeting also sought to afford an opportunity for stakeholders to give an update on the ongoing initiatives on issues raised.

Further, it sought to finalise outstanding issues of the TNF such as the progress made on the operationalisation of the TNF, particularly the establishment of the independent secretariat as well as the update on the ongoing labour law reform process. 

Prof Mavima assured that the work of the TNF would not be in vain and would be given the necessary priority that it deserved by Government. 

“The nation is expecting the TNF to proffer effective solutions to mitigate the socio-economic challenges currently being faced. 

“Your expertise, knowledge and insight to issues affecting the world of work cannot be underplayed. For that reason, it is without a doubt that the TNF has played and continues to play a critical role in the national discourse to promoting a stable socio-economic environment and harmonious industrial relations,” said Prof Mavima.

He encouraged stakeholders to continue engaging each other to strengthen social dialogue as it was the only way to find solutions to challenges being faced in the country. 

The Government remains committed to strengthening the TNF in influencing decisions on pertinent socio-economic issues that directly affect Zimbabweans, said Prof Mavima.