Source: Govt registers 15 000 skilled returnees – herald
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
Government has set up a Databank of 15 000 registered skilled people who have returned to Zimbabwe in recent weeks mainly from South Africa, which has been rocked by vigilante xenophobic attacks.
The development comes as Zimbabwe implements the Global Skills Partnership Programme, which seeks to facilitate the safe migration of skilled citizens to countries experiencing skills shortages.
Cabinet approved the Global Skills Partnership Programme last year. The recent disturbances in South Africa have forced thousands of skilled Zimbabweans to return home.
The experts will help the country achieve targets under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which is guiding the nation’s transformation into an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
The programme is being implemented through a Whole-of-Government approach involving five Ministries: Skills Audit and Development; Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Foreign Affairs and International Trade; and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
An inter-ministerial committee workshop to deliberate strategies for the smooth implementation of the programme began in Masvingo yesterday.
The repatriation of 100 000 Zimbabweans from South Africa has resulted in the return of thousands of skilled Zimbabweans who could help drive socio-economic transformation.
Skills Audit and Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Ambassador Rudo Chitiga said developments in South Africa were having a direct impact on the programme.
“Recent events in South Africa have had an effect on our programme (Global Skills Partnership). I was in Beitbridge yesterday where I met some of our people who were returning home and all they needed was safe migration,” she said.
“We as the Government will know exactly where we have placed our people and for how long, fully knowing that they are protected.
‘’We have so far created a databank with 15 000 registered skilled returnees and some of them have skills that are required in our industries locally such as artisans, welders, bricklayers and technicians and these will be absorbed because there is space for them locally.’’
Ambassador Chitiga said the databank also includes skilled workers in agriculture, particularly those with expertise in grape harvesting, as well as construction workers, some of whom participated in the building of football stadiums ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa.
Skilled returnees who could not be immediately absorbed locally would be considered for opportunities under the Global Skills Partnership Programme, she said.
‘’Right now, South Africa already has a skills gap and under this programme (Global Skills Partnership) we will facilitate safe migration to South Africa for a specific group of people who possess skills that are required there.
“So, we are negotiating with South Africa for safe migration of our skilled people who fall into specific categories.
‘’Some of our people were actually asking us at the border where this programme was all along because it allows safe migration for our people to those countries that have skills’ gaps,’’ said Ambassador Chitiga.
The workshop is expected to deliberate on the responsibilities of each ministry involved in the implementation of the programme.
Zimbabwe has already been exporting skilled labour to countries within SADC and beyond.
Government has deployed hundreds of teachers to Rwanda under a bilateral arrangement, while health professionals have also secured opportunities abroad.
According to Ambassador Chitiga, each ministry involved in the programme has a clearly defined role.
Her ministry is responsible for identifying available skills, while the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage conducts background checks to ensure prospective migrants have no criminal records.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development verifies qualifications, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade identifies and negotiates agreements with countries facing skills shortages.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is responsible for ensuring that labour laws in destination countries adequately protect the rights of Zimbabwean workers.
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