Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Govt tackles employer, worker relations | Sunday Mail (Business)

Africa Moyo recently in KARIBA

GOVERNMENT is confident that the balance between business viability and employee welfare would be achieved on the back of robust measures announced in the recent Monetary Policy Statement (MPS).

In a speech read on her behalf by Mr Francis Mafuratidze while officially opening the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) 2019 human resources indaba, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said it was of “paramount importance” that employers temper their interests with those of their employees.

“I say this mindful of the need to provide decent work for our workers, whilst also protecting their jobs and ensuring the sustainability of enterprises,” said Dr Nzenza.

“It is acknowledged that the leader of today is faced with an enormous task of balancing employee welfare on the one hand, and business viability on the other.

“However, given the policy framework that we have put in place as Government, I am confident that these challenges are surmountable.”

The MPS, she said, “clearly” provides measures aimed at addressing the operational challenges bedevilling employers.

The successful implementation of the monetary policy would bring “certainty, predictability and functionality” to the economy, a move that will have a positive impact on the welfare of employees, she added.

Dr Nzenza said while the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), which brings together Government, business and employees, has witnessed commendable in the past, a lot still needs to be done.

“Whilst we have scored some success, I believe that more work needs to be done to ensure that we realise our full potential.

“Equally important is the unity of purpose that has brought and kept us together in spite of our differences.

“I am optimistic that as we continue to engage each other, we do so with a more focused vision, and not renege on our respective commitments,” said Dr Nzenza, who is the chairperson TNF.

The legislation of the TNF is currently before Parliament.

Government recently had an interactive session with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Labour and Social Welfare and the Senate Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where parties agreed to expeditiously push for the promulgation of the TNF Act.

Dr Nzenza encouraged business to remain committed to dialogue as a platform to hammer win-win solutions.

The Emcoz human resources indaba ran under the theme “The leadership challenge in managing employee welfare”.

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Source: Ministry pushes for PhD lecturers | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Sunday Mail Reporter

Lecturers at higher and tertiary institutions should ideally have doctorates (PhDs), but in cases where there is a critical skills gap, a master’s degree will suffice to guarantee quality graduates, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said while there has to be an insistence on PhDs for lecturers, an academic senate at any institution – which ordinarily is the governing body – can consider holders of master’s degrees, especially in “critical shortage areas”.

“The basic qualification for appointment to the university’s academic staff is normally an earned PhD/DPhil degree, but a master’s degree may be considered in the critical shortage areas as approved by (academic) senate. This is subject to review from time to time,” said Minister Murwira.

He said being encouraged to have the highest qualification possible should not be scary as it was not a diesease..

“Our education must have predictable order and be transparent to itself in order to be trusted by the outside world, and to achieve this, we are implementing the Zimbabwe National Qualifications Framework (ZNQF),” said Prof Murwira.

In essence, ZNQF is designed to harmonise and standardise national qualifications that meet regional and international standards.

The framework also ensures grades amongst staff in higher and tertiary learning institutions are standardised, which reduces the variability in competencies of lectures in the same grade.

Further, Government intends to standardise degree programmes to make it easy for students who might want to transfer to another institution.

 

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Source: Zinara raises $117 million for infrastructure projects | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Sunday Mail Reporter

Government has raised a cumulative $117 million from the market and will funnel the resources to major road infrastructure projects that are primed to quicken the country’s economic growth.

The funds are being raised through two separate bonds.

A $150 million Infrastructure Bond, which was recently floated by ZB Bank, will be ring-fenced for the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.

Already $62 million has been raised.

Treasury will weigh in with an additional $50 million for the same project.

However, another $150 million bond, which was floated by Cabs/Old Mutual, has since raised $55 million, which will be sunk in other road projects.

Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) corporate communications manager Mr Augustine Moyo said last week the market has been responding positively to the bonds as the road management fund has successfully repaid its maiden one-year bond.

“Government’s Roads Reclamation and Development Programme, which is already underway, seeks to reclaim and transform our roads into a world-class network.

“It is against this background that Zinara has mobilised $62 million from the $150 million Infrastructure Bond for 2019,” said Mr Moyo.

“The $62 million has already been disbursed to the Department of Roads for the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway. “We also currently have another approved bond for roads with CABS/Old Mutual of $150 million, of which we have raised $55 million on a private-placement basis. These are two-year bonds.”

It is believed that Government – which faced challenges engaging a foreign contractor for the Harare-Masvingo- Beitbridge highway owing to the quoted cost of the project – will leverage on Zinara cash flows to raise additional funds for the project.

About $1,2 billion is needed for the project, which is considered a major backbone for the North-South corridor.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will also play its part.

Last year, Zinara, which is currently exploring financial instruments to augment its traditional road-user charges and levies, successfully raised $110 million, which was disbursed to various road authorities.

Mr Moyo said: “You will agree with me that 2017/18 has seen a surge in road rehabilitation activities never seen before in this country and I am sure the public can testify to that.

“Zinara has lobbied Treasury to increase investment in roads through the Inter-Ministerial Economic Roads Rehabilitation Programme, which is chaired by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga.”

Treasury, through its Public Sector Investment Programme, has significantly increased its funding for road works, especially through the Department of Roads, which falls under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.

Government is presently undertaking nationwide tours to inspect and assess the quality of current ongoing road projects.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board chair Engineer Michael Madanha says the recent audit findings will help restore sanity at the organisation, which is critical in spearheading crucial projects to grow the local economy.

The audit, which was carried out by Grant Thornton, allegedly unearthed massive corrupt activities and flagrant disregard of good corporate governance by some senior managers.

Among the litany of charges identified by auditors include flouting tender procedures and contracting companies that never delivered for the works that they were paid to do.

Eng Madanha told The Sunday Mail that the board will act on the audit findings.

“All those found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with by law-enforcement agents.

“As a body corporate, Zinara will institute civil proceedings to recover the looted funds,” he said.

“Disciplinary action will be taken against those who abused their positions. New recruitments will then follow and will be conducted by a reputable human resource consultant.

“All acting positions will be filled substantively and the CEO’s position will be advertised.”

The systems, he added, will be rejigged to make the statutory body fit for purpose.

“We are going to tighten our revenue collection systems, outsource some key activities like systems management, monitoring and evaluation,” said Eng Madanha.

There will also be a drive to ensure that the revenue management body sticks to its mandate and core business.

He also said roads are key to Government’s aspirations of achieving an upper middle income-economy by 2030.

 

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Source: Business digs deep for Cyclone Idai victims | Sunday Mail (Business)

Africa Moyo
Senior Business Reporter

Local companies last week dug deep into their purses to support victims of Cyclone Idai, which took a heavy toll on lives and property particularly in Manicaland province, by donating goods and services worth millions of dollars, in a strong demonstration of patriotism and unity.

Construction companies provided graders, bulldozers, tippers, front-end loaders, among a host of earth-moving equipment.

They also provided tents, water, food and other consumables that were desperately needed in the affected communities.

Government — which is currently confronted by competing demands, especially in an economy that is just beginning to recover — has called for support from well-wishers to assist affected communities.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, China and Tanzania, among others, have since extended support  to Cyclone Idai victims.

Market watchers say the intervention by local companies, which are already under pressure from foreign currency shortages, is an indication of their commitment to the national cause.

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed companies such as Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited, ZB Holdings, Simbisa Brands, Econet, Delta and Lafarge, together with public entities such as TelOne and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), among others, have also weighed in.

Former Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) president Mr Davison Norupiri told The Sunday Mail Business that the outpouring of support from companies shows their commitment to communities in which they operate.

“What it basically means is that the companies are prepared to support Government initiatives to turnaround the economy, and also to stand with the Government when there are challenges facing the country and Government,” said Mr Norupiri.

“To me, it’s a sign of oneness, it’s a sign of unity, which I really commend and I pray that this must not only be for disasters, but it has to be an all-weather relationship between Government and business.

“So we are very happy and I think the game has just changed; people have realised that for us to progress, we really need to be united and people have united to fight a worthy cause, and I strongly believe they are also uniting to fight the challenges facing our economy.”

When people put their heads together, he added, “it’s a very good sign” of good things to come, and critically, “it’s also a very strong message to the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) that you are not on your own”.

Economist Mr Persistence Gwanyanya said companies were committed to “squeeze the little they have to assist”.

“It’s commendable that the community realises that it cannot wait for Government to do everything, especially when they know the fiscal constraints of the latter. This is what is called good corporate social responsibility.

“But it doesn’t say the Government should relax. There is clearly need for Government to rethink its preparedness with regards natural disasters such as Cyclone Idai. Whilst disasters are rare and infrequent occurrences, Government should always be prepared for them because we don’t know when they will visit us,” said Mr Gwanyanya.

President Mnangagwa also paid tribute to foreign governments, organisations and citizens whose “deep sense of compassion has moved them to stand by us in this hour of great national grief and need”.

 Companies support for victims

Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited (DZL) donated goods worth RTGS$62 000, which include Pfuko-Udiwo maheu, steri milk, loose tea, lacto (milk) and blankets.

DZL corporate affairs manager Mrs Imelda Shoko said donations by organisations and fellow Zimbabweans are “a noble thing to do and something that we must currently be preoccupied with”.

“Lending a hand enables the affected people to quickly get back on their feet and move on with life,” said Mrs Shoko.

TelOne’s head of corporate communications and client experience Mrs Melody Harry said they have donated medicines, basic food stuffs and 500 blankets worth RTGS$100 000.

The firm also opened all 152 exchanges and TelOne shops countrywide to receive donations from well-wishers, which would be transported to Harare for sorting before dispatching to Manicaland.

It has also offered free toll lines for donations, individuals in distress and volunteers.

Further, the fixed telecommunications company has allocated two Mahindra 4X4 trucks to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), while two 8-tonne trucks have been committed for the transportation of donated goods.

Nyaradzo Funeral Services is offering decent burials to the deceased while EcoSure has set up a fund to provide free funeral cover to families of the cyclone.

ZB Bank donated goods worth RTGS$60 000, while Simbisa has provided cooking oil, mealie-meal, dried foods, flour and bread to the victims and is putting up a relief fund to deal with the long-term effects of the cyclone.

Cement manufacturer Lafarge has pledged to supply the “full cement requirements” for identified projects targeting schools, roads, homes and clinics. Stanbic Bank also chipped in with RTGS$250 000 and provided tents that accommodate over 700 people, among other goodies.

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ZIMBABWE has started exporting electricity to regional countries especially Namibia, buoyed by increased production at the Kariba Power Station which came into life in March last year. President Mnangagwa commissioned Unit 7 and 8, which were constructed at a cost of $531 million by China’s Sinohydro, resulting in an additional 300MW into the national grid. […]