Zimbabwe exporting labour because it has excess not because it cannot create jobs-Minister

HON. MANGAMI: I would like to find out from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare if the Government has got a policy on the exportation of labour.  If it has, can it be explained so that we know how to go about it.

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES (HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. As things stand, there is no generalised policy on the exportation of labour but indeed on an ad-hoc basis, you will notice initiatives coming through at ministerial level where certain requirements come in. The last one that comes to mind right now is when we were looking at sending teachers to Sudan.  So, those initiatives will be coming in on a ministry by ministry basis but we should come up with a framework governing conditions to do that. Probably, that is something that can be considered.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Point of clarity Mr. Speaker!

THE HON. SPEAKER: You ask a supplementary question.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Of course, it is a supplementary question.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Member, withdraw the statement of-course, you are not fighting the Chair.

HON. MUTSEYAMI: Well noted Mr. Chairman, I withdraw that statement.  Mr. Speaker Sir, to the attention of the Hon. Deputy Minister, I have heard with regard to the issue that the exportation of labour is as a result of abundance in terms of labour in our country.  If I can get clarity from the Hon. Minister as to whether it is an issue of abundance of labour or it is an issue that our economy under the Government which is moving this economy has failed to create jobs.  It has failed to meet the capacity to create jobs to meet the population vis-a-vis the economy.  Is it an issue of abundance of labour or it is an issue of the Government failing to create jobs?

HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  The House will fully appreciate that if we talk of literacy levels in Africa, Zimbabwe is right there at the top highest point in echelons.  Mr. Speaker Sir, if you look at countries like Israel, you will find that their biggest export is labour because of the capacitation that the Government would have given to its people.  We are right there at the top echelon where we have people we can export and people who can stand their position in which ever country we would have send them to.

Mr. Speaker Sir, you will appreciate that in South Africa right now, Zimbabweans are right there at the top. In Australia, we are at the top.  We should be proud of the human capacity that we are building in the country.  Thanks primarily to the Government initiative which has put thrust on educating its people. Because of that, invariably you will find that we are coming up with people who are relevant worldwide. So as a country, we should actually be proud that we have people of substance, people who make a mark wherever we send them.  I thank you.

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