Kadoma+Declaration+Shame+Makoshori+Zimbabwe+Independent

Zimbabwe Independent, Harare, OPINION, March 9, 2007
=Kadoma Declaration And Its Proposed Solutions=


 * Shame Makoshori**

ECONOMIC and social stakeholders have called for the adoption of the Kadoma Declaration in talks for a proposed social contract. Businessdigest today summarises some of the key points contained in the document and reproduces a cocktail of suggested solutions to heal the economy.

The Kadoma Declaration, which was drafted after negotiations held in Kadoma by the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) on August 20 2001, identified the causes of Zimbabwe's high country risk factor and suggested measures needed and to be undertaken by the three social partners -- government, labour and business -- to deal with the risk and improve the country's image.

The declaration defined country risk as "a premium that is attached by nationals, residents, foreigners and international bodies on residing in, visiting and/or doing business with a particular country" and identified its manifestations as economic and unsustainable macro-economic variables, as well as commercial such as trading partners lacking confidence.

The mistrust and intolerance in the expression of political views in the country, which had given rise to political instability and apprehension from foreign governments in engaging freely with the country, was also noted as a manifestation of the country risk factor.

The elements of the risk identified in the Kadoma Declaration included low confidence and/or pride in one's country; lack of patriotism; lack of trust in institutional systems; failure of the nation to supply basic human needs; lack of social cohesion; real or perceived selective observance of the rule of law; insecurity; and real and perceived lack of political tolerance.

The social partners identified the following as causes of Zimbabwe's country risk factors:


 * The failure by some of the institutions of governance to function effectively;
 * Mismatches between policy and action;
 * Delays in policy implementation;
 * That the overall (imbalance in the) spread of wealth in the country and continued racial imbalance in the ownership of the means of production;
 * Irresponsible utterances by politicians;
 * The activities of civil groups and pressure groups as forces affecting governance;
 * Lack of political tolerance between the ruling party and members of the opposition;
 * Corruption;
 * Contradictory statements by and among social partners;
 * Lack of meaningful response to positive government, labour and business policy initiatives;
 * External interference in the country's affairs and;
 * Lack of respect for human rights in the world of work and society in general.

The social partners noted somberly that the risk factors had impacted negatively on the country's economy, pointing out at the prolonged economic depression, the skewed macro-economic fundamentals and hyperinflation, low savings and domestic investments, premiums on doing business with the outside world, capital flight, reduction in foreign direct investment and donor support, lack of lines of credit and de-industrialisation, high unemployment and underemployment and the brain drain.

The declaration noted that 75% of the population was now poor because of the poorly performing economy and that poverty had resulted in increased crime and that the gap between the rich and the poor was rising.

"Poverty has significantly increased fatalism among a significant proportion of Zimbabweans. Prostitution by increasingly younger people has continued unabated inspite of HIV and Aids," noted the declaration.

It added: "Many countries in the world perceive Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in very poor light. Zimbabweans are ill-treated and abused at various immigration points in some countries and Zimbabweans are discriminated against when trying to make commercial transactions abroad."


 * From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200703090483.html**

580 words