ZAPU
Zimbabwe African People’s Union
ELECTION
MANIFESTO
JULY 2013
ELECTION MANIFESTO
OF
ZIMBABWE AFRICA PEOPLE’S UNION
JULY 2013
Contents
1.
Zimbabwe’s Democracy Vision and ZAPU’s Mission
3
2.
An accountable state committed to balanced economic
development3
3.
Constitutional Issues
4
4.Corruption
6
5.
Poverty Eradication, Job Creation and Work
6
6.
Land Policy and Agriculture 10
7.
Development of Domestic Private Sector
11
8.
Mining, Energy and Water Resources
13
9.
Natural Resources, Climate Change and Sustainable
Development14
10.
Economic Infrastructure
17
11.
Gender Equality and Equity
18
12.
More Opportunity for Youth
19
13.
Education, Health, Housing and Social Development
19
14.
Social Security Safety Nets 24
15.
Foreign Policy, Foreign Trade and Regional Integration
24
1
2
1.
Zimbabwe’s Democracy Vision and
ZAPU’s Mission
Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence and freedom, including the
resort to arms, was driven by the vision and burning desire for a
democratic nation-state, a state anchored on majority rule as against
the settler colonial order that vested power and wealth in a racial
minority. The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), the
mother of the nationalist movement in the country, is committed to
that founding vision and ideal, and cognisant of the various forms
of struggle that have for over thirty years attested to the desire for a
democratic state beyond attainment of formal independence. It was
never the purpose of our struggle to replace the colonial order with
elite privilege and brazen lack of economic accountability in the
middle of misery and deteriorating standards.
In line with the foregoing vision, ZAPU’s mission is to develop
and consolidate, together with the people of Zimbabwe, a state that
respects, promotes and protects all human rights (economic, social,
cultural, civil and political rights) without distinction of any kind,
such as race, ethnicity, language, sex, religion, and political or other
opinion. In short, it is a state that promotes social justice and human
wellbeing. This is a state whose citizens are equal in terms of human
rights and responsibilities and are the owners of the state, as well
as its supreme authority. The new constitution has gone some way
towards setting the benchmarks for many elements of the vision but
has limitations and gaps, and still retains key vestiges of the centralist
and authoritarian state that has infringed on popular freedoms and
eroded accountability.
2.
An accountable state committed to
balanced economic development
ZAPU welcomes the reduction of concentration of power in
3
the Executive although there are still shortfalls in the new 2013
constitution. The “parked issues” left for implementation in the
future illustrate the degree to which accountability of government
to the citizens through elected representatives and the judiciary had
been steadily eroded over the years.
The overriding concern of ZAPU in power will be to ensure
that the different arms of government (Executive, Judiciary and
Legislature) discharge their responsibility towards the citizenry, to
protect rights/liberties and livelihoods. Accountability of the State
to Zimbabweans and partnership between public institutions and
the various stakeholders and regions in the country is a core theme
in this manifesto. We wish to underline the importance of public
(stakeholder) participation in decision-making, so that bureaucracy
and heavy-handed politicians do not ignore emerging challenges and
opportunities to achieving balanced development across the country.
3.
Constitutional Issues
Proportional representation and devolution of political power to the
provinces are some of the key strategies for the development of a
democratic nation state in a country like Zimbabwe.
3.1. Proportional Representation
The new constitution of Zimbabwe has adopted proportional
representation (PR) in the allocation of reserved Assembly seats for
women and for some Senate seats. ZAPU will work ceaselessly for
PR to be used across the board at national level, so that the strengths
of political parties in Parliament correspond to the votes cast for
them by citizens/voters. This system would ensure that no votes of
citizens are wasted and are all given due weight in choosing who
runs the country. The electoral system of proportional representation
accommodates diverse interests and promotes consensus. It enhances
power sharing and allegiance to the political order of the day by
leaders of different political parties.
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3.2. Devolution of Power to the Provinces
Devolution of power to the provinces is a strategy to ensure
the realisation of the principle of equal rights and the right to
development by all Zimbabweans. The increasingly centralist
system of government that prevailed from independence in 1980 and
including the tenure of the GNU up to 2013 has not been responsive
to the needs of the provinces and local governance. The devolution
of power which is in the constitution of January 2013 does not
go far enough to enable radical change in direction. ZAPU will
therefore continue to fight for deepening of the provisions beyond
what is contained in the 2013 constitution and will insist on the full
implementation of what is currently provided for. The party believes
that provisions for devolution of power to the provinces must be
entrenched so that essential detail should not be left to Acts of
Parliament and, once adopted should be amended only by a national
referendum.
The 2013 constitution retained the ten provinces (8 provinces and
two metropolitan ones) from the old constitution. They should
be reduced from ten to five (Mashonaland, Masvingo, Midlands,
Manicaland and Matabeleland) so that they are economically
viable. Furthermore, these provinces should have greater powers,
relative autonomy in raising and spending their revenue to achieve
development priorities within their jurisdiction alongside common
national plans. ZAPU notes that the minimum threshold set for
allocation of national revenue to devolved governance in the 2013
constitution is 5%, a very low benchmark that needs revising
upwards for serious efforts towards balanced development of all
regions. This cannot even begin to undo the marginalization that
some areas of the country (like Matebeleland) have experienced.
ZAPU believes the detail on devolution of power as contained in the
2013 constitution needs refinement in order to have real meaning.
Among other things:
(i)
Provinces should have their own parliament s whose
5
members are elected using the first-past-the-post
system;
4.
(ii)
Provincial governments should have control over
natural resources and environmental issues within
their geographic jurisdiction;
(iii)
rovincial governments should have their own revenueraising systems;
(iv)
Provinces should set priorities to meet the peculiar
needs of their areas in economic, social, cultural and
other spheres of development.
Corruption
Zimbabwe is a resource-rich country that can afford better living
conditions than currently enjoyed. Widespread corruption, both in the
public and private sectors, is a major reason for the country’s sorry
state. Corruption takes various forms such as bribery, embezzlement,
patronage and nepotism. A ZAPU government will put in place
various legal instruments and measures to fight the scourge. It will
support the independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission so that
this institution can do its job without fear or favour. We also commit
ourselves to encouraging and giving space to strengthening of the
anti-corruption monitoring capacity in civil society organizations.
In addition a ZAPU government will encourage investigative
journalism to expose corruption, and will promote independent
media in order to in order to strengthen accountability in public
institutions. Overall, the government will curb greed that is most
typified by misappropriation and misuse of national revenue and
plunder of natural resources.
5.
Poverty Eradication, Job Creation and
Work
6
Extreme poverty undermines human dignity and nullifies all
guarantees of human rights. It is by definition a violation of the right
to an adequate standard of living that includes adequate food and
non-food items (decent shelter and housing, energy for household
use, education, health services, and access to information, among
others). Thus the direct link between poverty eradication and job
creation (expansion of formal employment as well as increased
capacity for income-generating self-employment) is evident.
ZAPU in government will step up measures for resuscitating ailing
industries across the country, tackle de-industrialization of Bulawayo
that was the hub of industry in Zimbabwe, and build industries
around new technologies.
5.1. Technology Development and Industrialization of
the Economy
Some of the causes of unemployment, since the country gained
its political independence in 1980, are shortages of productive
technologies (e.g. machinery and equipment) and intermediate
goods, as well as financial resources to import them. For example,
in December 2012 capacity utilization in the manufacturing sector
was about 44,2 % and about 77% of manufacturing companies
need new machinery and equipment. The country does not have the
financial resources to import all needed machinery to re-equip the
manufacturing sector and equipment needs of the other sectors of the
economy.
Technology development (designing and manufacturing of
technologies or developing formulas for process technologies and
producing products such as pharmaceuticals ) and industrialisation
( development of A and B branches of the manufacturing sector),
mainly based on local raw materials are some of the solutions to
the problem of unemployment which is one of the main causes of
poverty. The country has some of the raw materials for technology
development and industrialisation. Zimbabwe has to develop some
of the productive technologies and produce some of the consumer
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goods for its use and export.
In the same vein, intensified technology development will
also provide a sustainable base for durable industrialisation of
the economy which will lead to economic expansion, that is,
establishment of new and re-tooled industrial enterprises and related
economic activities.
A ZAPU government will, in consultation, put in place policies and
measures which will give impetus to technology development and
industrialisation of the economy. It will allow duty free importation
of machinery and equipment for the development of technologies
and will provide incentives to local enterprises which produce
technologies. Subject to quality and competitiveness, a ZAPU
government will also promote state procurement policies in favour of
utilising products and services from local enterprises.
5.2. Investing in Production and Management Skills
ZAPU in government will give priority to development of high
quality production skills and foster a friendly environment for
the small and medium scale enterprises to grow into significant
employers of labour. The production skills, particularly for women
and young people, need to be accompanied by easier access to
lines of credit for investment in new industries and for up-scaling
successful initiatives. It is important that such state facilitation is
provided on a politically non-partisan basis and does not become an
avenue for vote-buying and posturing for short-term advantage.
5.3. Occupational safety and healthy working
conditions
A healthy working environment and healthy workforce are not
only good for enterprise profitability through retention of skilled
people but also contribute to healthy communities and lower costs
to public health. ZAPU in government will ensure enforcement of
occupational safety standards so that quick profits are not gained
8
at the expense of workers’ health. This also goes for the global
standards and conventions relating to the rights of workers through
their trade unions and individually.
5.4. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to complement
local investment
In order to solve the problem of shortages of financial resources
to finance the resuscitation of existing industries and to establish
new enterprises, a ZAPU government will put in place policies and
measures to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to complement
internally-generated investment. Judicious use of instruments such
as creation of tax breaks for both local and foreign investers can go
some way towards channelling investment towards priority sectors
and strategic industries. We intend to promote various forms of
domestic saving for capital accumulation based on trustworthy
economic and monetary management. Old-established sources
domestic investment include pension, property insurance and medical
aid schemes, among others. Furthermore, the government will
solicit for foreign loans as well as build, operate and transfer (BOT)
schemes to resuscitate and expand economic infrastructure. A ZAPU
government will ensure that such foreign investment will be legally
protected and will push for entrenchment of such guarantees so that
they are not changed at the whims of demagogic politicians.
5.5. Rural Development: Investing in the Majority
It is estimated that over 90 percent of the population in Zimbabwe’s
rural areas live below the poverty datum line. Rural development
is thus the main way to break out of subsistence farming activities
and ensuring that the majority of our population are not bystanders
in the national economy. Young and educated members of rural
communities have been voting with their feet to seek employment
(increasingly outside the country in some areas) and to bridge
seasonal shortages of basic food and other necessities even in
the best years. ZAPU is committed to intensification of rural
9
development in order to eradicate poverty through the creation
of productive employment in the communal and resettlement
areas. ZAPU is committed to reversing the current situation where
Zimbabwe has become a net importer of essential food whereas the
bulk of our population lives in the countryside and peri-urban areas
with agricultural potential. There is clear need to support competent
farmers with essential inputs without consideration of their political
persuasions.
6.
Land Policy and Agriculture
Land ownership and access to productive land has always been
a major factor in nationalist struggles for power. The chaotic
acquisition and allocation of land in Zimbabwe over the last ten years
has shaken the settler dominated farming system but failed to provide
an alternative that guarantees food security and self-sufficiency.
ZAPU welcomes the consensus reflected in the 2013 constitution
that the (chaotic) acquisition and redistribution of land is irreversible.
However, the party also believes that land should serve its prime
function of food production and source of non-agricultural products
rather than be hoarded by elite unproductive, indigenous “farmers”
who have benefitted from land grabs to be multiple-farm owners.
6.1. Land Policy
The main components of ZAPU’s land policy include the following:
(i)
Equitable distribution of land taking into account the
agro-ecological endowment of regions
(ii)
Putting a limit to an amount of land owned by private
individuals or companies, and monitoring (under)
utilization and hoarding;
(iii)
Promoting access to land by women and youth and
overcoming artificial barriers to their production
potential;
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(iv)
Conservation and sustainable use of land for the
present and future generations;
(v)
No foreigners and foreign companies will
permanently own land in Zimbabwe, but they will be
permitted to lease land for a given period;
(vi)
Reduction of reliance on subsistence farming by
creating productive employment in non-farming
sectors;
(vii)
Compensation of farmers for improvements to lands
and for movable property that was forcibly taken
during the chaotic land reform process; and
(viii) Support to an Independent Land Commission whose
functions will include land audits, (under)utilization
of farms, and other pertinent issues.
6.2. Agriculture
Agriculture is a very important sector whose performance affects all
other parts of the economy.
Even more sophisticated economies recognise this and have
generally ensured that it can produce enough food for their countries
and for export, as well as raw materials for the manufacturing
industries. ZAPU in government will restore the central role of
agriculture in balanced development. This entails value addition
to agricultural products, improved farm support services, greater
investment in agricultural research and reinvigoration of existing
research institutes, strengthening extension services and diffusion
of technology, better management of grain reserves, and various
measures for adaptation to climate change and mitigating the impacts
of climate change.
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7.
Development of Domestic Private
Sector
ZAPU is committed to the development of a domestic private sector
with broad based ownership, with emphasis on the establishment of
new enterprises, especially in the manufacturing sector. This will
create productive employment, a prerequisite for poverty eradication
and an adequate standard of living. A robust manufacturing sector
has the potential to relieve the country from the pressure of balance
of payments deficit which stands at about US$3,6 billion. Zimbabwe
is currently heavily dependent on imports of manufactured goods
(technologies, intermediate and consumer goods). Furthermore, the
establishment of new enterprises will broaden the tax base; the broad
tax base will enable the government to collect enough revenue for
financing the development of economic infrastructure, health services
and education, and so on.
Some of the measures a ZAPU government will pursue for
promoting expansion of the domestic private sector include;
(i)
Fostering the growth of new industries engaged
in technology development in order to reduce
dependence on foreign sources for essential
technology
(ii)
Using incentives to promote various forms of
domestic savings
(iii)
Creating tax breaks for newly-established enterprices
to speed up development
(iv)
Promoting rapid development of production skills for
all economic sectors
(v)
Improving conditions for the development and growth
of small and medium scale enterprises (S.M.Es), and
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(vi)
7.1.
Pursuing improved access to international markets,
starting with regional markets in the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) and Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Indigenization of the economy
ZAPU believes that change without chaos and self-centered greed
is possible. Haphazard and compulsory acquisition of assets in
foreign-owned companies is a dereliction of duty by state organs
that should preside over an orderly participation by local capital.
Unfortunately, the current chaos is not due to absence of clear
results and sound recommendations of commissioned research (e.g.
“Report on the State of Economic Indigenization in Zimbabwe”,
ZIM/97/005). 8.
Mining, Energy and Water Resources
Mining and energy between them, and also in combination, impact
on almost all economic activity. Water is even more pervasive in all
production activity.
8.1. Mining
Mining is an old economic activity in Zimbabwe and one of the
drivers of colonial greed and occupation. The country has abundant
minerals (gold, diamonds, lithium, caesium, platinum group metals,
chromite, high quality emerald, iron ore, coal, copper and coal bed
methane - the largest known in Southern Africa). Three possible
new diamond fields have been identified in Binga, Tsholotsho and
Masvingo. according to aeromagnetic exploration reports. These
natural resources provide Zimbabwe with a good base for export
earnings and for industrialisation of the economy not tied to one or a
few commodities.
Over the last few years Zimbabwe has become a recognised source
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of quality diamonds and is poised to bring on stream the exploitation
of other mineral resources. ZAPU in government will tighten
measures for preventing leakage (illegal siphoning) of revenue from
mining activities, whether by local or foreign agents. Reclamation of
abandoned mines, pollution prevention from processing of mineral
produce, and consistent enforcement of Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) are also some of the things that need keen followup. Our government will also revisit the current punitive licence fees
for small-scale miners whose net effect is to encourage mining-claim
hoarding by the elite.
8.2. Energy
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing energy shortages for domestic
and for commercial/industrial use. Power rationing (“load shedding”)
by distributing non-availability of power has become widespread.
ZAPU in government will play its part to see that full capacity is
restored in coal-fired generation while opportunities are sought
for increasing our hydro-power capacity and for collaborative
development of the same in collaboration with neighbouring
countries. In the medium to long-term we should also witness
exploitation of coal-bed methane reserves. Most importantly,
Zimbabwe should step up the use of off-grid, renewable energy
sources: solar power in homes and bio-gas from domestic digesters.
8.3. Water Resources
It has been said countless times that “water is life”. ZAPU in
government will give due priority to this important resource
whose timely availability will become increasingly unpredictable
owing to emerging changes in rainfall patterns. There is increased
consumption in growing cities while the needs of agriculture and
other industries will increase. The answer is not just punitive tariffs
from inefficient water utilities but forward-looking, coordinated
programmes that combine construction of reservoirs, efficient use
and conservation of water resources. Even domestic-level rainwater
14
harvesting can play an important role as has been demonstrated in
some countries. However, there is no escaping the need for decisive
action to tackle outstanding projects like the Zambezi pipeline
for Bulawayo that was foreseen as far back as 1912. The deindustrialization of the city and the vagaries of farming in the path of
the pipeline corridor can partly be reversed through this project.
9.
Natural Resources, Climate Change
and Sustainable Development
9.1. Natural Resources and balanced development
Human livelihood and welfare depend on natural sources. It is
therefore important to conserve renewable natural resources and to
get maximum benefits from non-renewable resources (minerals of
various kinds) without damaging our environment.
Despite the fact that some parts of Zimbabwe experience frequent
droughts that impact on rangeland cattle farming and field crops
(particularly rain-fed agriculture), this is offset by availability of
good agricultural soils, timber and wildlife that, if managed well, can
provide decent livelihoods.
9.2. Climate Change
Climate change and climate variability may be changing the rhythm
of life as manifested in extreme weather events. As a result of
climate change and climate variability rain-fed agriculture may
become more difficult in some areas as rains come late and in
unpredictable quantity. Some areas may become warmer and wetter
(more humidity), with mixed results such as greater crop yields but
more vector-borne diseases such as malaria which were relatively
unknown. There are likely to be more natural disasters, in the form
of floods, droughts and wildfires. Levels in some dams may be
frequently and increasingly too low for hydro-power generation and
15
irrigation because of shifts in rainfall patterns. There is a need to
adapt to climate change. Climate change is already changing the way
we do business in natural resources and ecosystem management and
in related sectors like agriculture (both crop and livestock farming),
health and sanitation, and hydro-power generation.
ZAPU in power will give more serious attention to climate-proofing
of the economy and support populations so that they may better cope
with the immediate impacts of climate change and make long-term
adjustments. The highly industrialised countries are responsible for
the bulk of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration in the atmosphere
that is causing climate change, while Africa accounts for less than
3.8% of these GHG like carbon dioxide and methane. Countries
like Zimbabwe should get support for cleaner development (i.e. less
GHG intensive) and credits from the major polluters for retaining
forests and other ecosystems that act as carbon sinks. At the same
time the developed countries should do more to curb their polluting
activities in order to mitigate climate change. These trade-offs must
yield economic benefits to our country and collectively as developing
Africa .
9.3. Sustainable Development: Green Growth
It has been scientifically proven that the present trends of economic
development lead to environmental degradation and depletion of
natural resources on which human livelihood and welfare depend. In
implementing the programmes of economic and social development,
a ZAPU government will fast-track development of policies and
measures that will gradually tilt the balance towards sustainable
development (that is development that improves the quality of life
without eroding the environment and depleting renewable natural
resources). This package of policies, measures and initiatives is
“Green Growth”.
What is new here is the focus and concerted implementation rather
than completely new and untried resource management solutions. For
example the development and use of technologies for substitution,
16
waste reduction, recycling, and conservation of scarce and nonrenewable resources have demonstrable economic benefits. At the
same time all such measures simultaneously contribute to global
efforts to mitigate climate change whose effects include changing
weather patterns leading to droughts and floods.
9.4. Tourism, Natural Resources, and Cultural
Heritage
Zimbabwe has abundant natural resources and places of cultural
significance that serve as tourist attractions, in addition to being
the source of pride, enjoyment, and connection to our roots. ZAPU
in government will give strong support to the maintenance and
protection of cultural sites, historic monuments, endangered species
of wildlife and plants, as well as unique natural features such as the
Victoria Falls. Tourist revenue should benefit regions/communities
and provide upkeep of relevant sites.
10. Economic Infrastructure
Economic infrastructure plays a key role in the economic
development of a country. At the present moment Zimbabwe’s
economic infrastructure is in a dilapidated state. ZAPU government
will rehabilitate and expand the following economic infrastructure;
(i)
Roads, telecommunication network, railways,
irrigation infrastructure, agricultural research stations
and energy infrastructure;
(ii)
Expand road network, telecommunications network,
increase the generation of electricity by building more
stations using various energy sources available in
the country as well to build more dams for irrigation
purposes, including the Matabeleland Zambezi Water
Project.
(iii)
Develop skills necessary for the above economic
17
infrastructure;
(iv)
Develop research and development institutions to
service the needs of the manufacturing industry; and
(v)
Devolve the responsibility of maintenance and
development of road network and water resources to
the provincial governments.
(vi)
The government will solicit for build-operate and
transfer (BOT) schemes to resuscitate and expand
economic infrastructure which has collapsed.
11. Gender Equality and Equity
Zimbabwe, under a ZAPU government, will take deliberate and
quantifiable steps to promote gender equity and gender equality.
The ultimate goal is 50-50 representation of women and men in all
spheres of decision-making and nation-building. The predominantly
patriarchal political landscape has underutilized the talent,
intellectual resources and resilience of our country’s women, thus
squandering substantial social and economic development potential.
Zimbabwe has committed itself to international standards, targets,
and regional instruments that focus on the welfare and well-being,
protection, and advancement of women. These include the African
(AU) Solemn Declaration on Gender, and the SADC Protocol
on Gender and Development. Zimbabwe is s also party to the
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW). However, the country’s rickety economy
and politically volatile environment in the last decade are among the
factors that have inhibited the development of inclusive programmes
and initiatives that do not depend on patronage and political labels.
So many years after the Platform for Action from the groundbreaking World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, much
more still remains to be done. ZAPU is committed to fast-tracking
measures to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
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and subsequent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the
United Nations (UN).
A nation that tolerates the deprivation of half of its citizens can never
be truly free. A ZAPU government will go beyond window-dressing,
and work in earnest to get rid of constraints and historical barriers
to equality between men and women. In addition to increasing
women’s equal access to opportunities, including ending all forms
of violence against women, providing for safer motherhood, better
representation in managerial jobs and leadership, and above all
improving women’s access to credit and business opportunities.
12. More Opportunity for Youth
Thousands of boys and girls leave school every year. ZAPU
government will ensure that all youths who leave school and start to
work will be provided with wider opportunities for apprenticeships
and part-time education. There will be deliberate and targeted needsbased training for career development and self-employment as well
as Youth Employment Service. The following are the guidelines for a
proper programme for the empowerment of youth;
(i)
A clearly defined policy of allocating resources for
youth empowerment ( joint ventures, farming projects,
finance and tenders).
(ii)
Skills training through Technical Vocational Education
Training (TVET) to develop a base for creation of
industries.
(iii)
Ease customs duty for young entrepreneurs who want
to purchase industrial technology and machinery.
(iv)
Promote techno-preneurship as the foundation of job
creation among the youth based on four pillars of
decent work agenda i.e. productive and freely chosen
work, social protection, social dialogue and labour
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standards.
Job creation as a method of empowerment should be based on the
concept that it has to be gainful employment. Employment should
be regarded as empowerment against poverty as people may remain
poor even when on gainful employment.
13. Education, Health, Housing and Social
Development
There is a tendency to see social development as a cost and yet a
healthy, happy, informed and educated population is indispensable
for economic development and progress. ZAPU will give social
development its rightful place. This is in terms of education, health
services, programmes for people living with disabilities, sanitation,
nutrition, social security and housing, among others. Access to many
of these “services” is in fact the underpinning of basic human rights.
13.1. Education.
The main aim of education under a ZAPU government is to support
the development of a democratic nation-state. It would provide
people with skills which are appropriate for the development of a
democratic society.
The ZAPU government will:
(i)
Introduce and support compulsory school education
for all children between
the ages of 5 and 16, both
girls and boys, and ensure the necessary facilities and
modalities;
(ii)
Give priority to skills development education;
(iii)
Introduce human rights education (to include
democracy, development, peace and initial justice, and
understanding of the country’s constitution);
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(iv)
Promote re-alignment of teacher’s programmes to
meet present and future staffing needs;
(v)
Introduce an education with a priority to continuous
development of science and technology, as well as
democratic governance skills;
(vi)
A university education not only for academics but
also for highly skilled industrial engineering and
research in addition to science and technology;
(vii)
Introduce an education that caters for individual
differences in children
(viii)
Establish child-friendly schools that classify abilities
of children from an early age and channel this
education according to their abilities;
(ix)
Education to be used as tool for survival and family
life;
(x)
Schools that have a bias towards technical education
to be established at all levels of skills development
ranging from mere survival skills to higher levels of
skills training.
13.2. Health.
Health plays an important role in economic and social development
of a country. ZAPU believes that basic health services should be
controlled by Provincial governments. The National Government
should focus on large teaching hospitals, training standards and
registration of health institutions, as well as links with International
entities such as the United Nations World Health Organization
(WHO) and the United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF). In order
to improve health services, the following need to be tackled:
(i)
Improve the quality of health services as well as
expand health services to those areas which do not
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have them;
(ii)
Maintain a conducive environment for health
provision by the private sector;
(iii)
Promote training programmes to meet the needs of the
health service, and create an attractive environment to
retain trained medical personnel in the country;
(iv)
Make it mandatory for those in employment to
contribute to medical aid schemes, and ensure that
such schemes are monitored for quality service;
(v)
Work towards comprehensive medical coverage
through a National Health Service that can provide a
reliable safety net for the poor, long-term unemployed
and vulnerable groups. Such a service will also
ensure maintenance of public health, through disease
monitoring and prevention; and
(vi)
Provision of sexual and reproductive health facilities
and HIV/AIDS services.
13.3. People Living with Disabilities
It is estimated that around 15% of Zimbabweans are living with
disabilities. Disability includes long term physical, mental,
intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with
other barriers may hinder the full and effective participation of
those affected in activities on an equal basis with others. Under a
ZAPU government, Zimbabwe should ratify the Convention on the
Rights of People Living with Disabilities and join the progressive
international community in clearing the identified and potential
barriers to implementation.
The government under ZAPU will undertake, among other things,
the following;
(i)
Engage parents/guardians of children with disabilities
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to identify what support they require to empower their
children to live a normal life and have a livelihood.
(ii)
Identify areas of government for people with
disabilities to access material, financial, medical,
devices and transportation as may be deemed critical
for their livelihoods.
(i)
Create a culture of tolerance, love, caring and
participation in society by people living with
disabilities contrary to the current prevalent view that
they are a burden to society.
(ii)
Engage all stakeholders to debate and fine tune the
issue of targeted support for children and adults living
with disabilities, in the form of monthly grants for
their upkeep, a certain percentage of the workforce to
be people living with disabilities.
(iii)
Enforce policies that enable people living with
disabilities to access transportation, information,
communication technology, and other facilities open
to the general public.
13.4. Housing and Urbanization
The number of Zimbabweans living in urban areas has increased
steadily for various reasons, among them lack of employment and
income-generating opportunities for young people in the countryside.
ZAPU in government will work with provincial, metropolitan and
local structures to find innovative financing and facilitate costeffective construction to meet demand for decent and affordable
housing.
13.5. Water and Sanitation
The availability and provision of drinking water is usually grasped
very quickly as an essential necessity. ZAPU is committed to this
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basic ideal but will push for the combination of water provision with
sanitation in order to maximise health advantages.
13.6. Culture, Sports, Arts and Recreation
In the middle of crises and survival challenges, it is easy to relegate
recreational facilities and activities to the back seat. These are
not important to physical, mental and emotional health and, are
increasingly important economic activities in their own right.
ZAPU in government will mobilize, encourage and facilitate the
maintenance and improvement of culture, sports and recreational
services and facilities for all age groups in society. The country
should find ways of recognizing and promoting talent and excellence
in sport and the arts.
14. Social Security Safety Nets
A ZAPU government will review the problems of social security for
all persons. The state will work with all stakeholders to improve and
develop appropriate cost effective schemes and measures to meet
the needs and welfare of persons who either can no longer support
themselves or deserve support for one reason or another. Such
schemes and measures will cater for the following:
(i)
Old age pensions
(ii)
Sickness benefits
(iii)
Maternity benefits
(iv)
Orphans’ benefits
(v)
Liberation war veterans’ pensions
(vi)
National scheme of compulsory contributory pensions
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15. Foreign Policy, Foreign Trade and
Regional Integration
15.1. Foreign Policy
Zimbabwe’s Foreign policy under a ZAPU government will be
driven by the country’s commitment to democracy and the economic
needs. ZAPU will honour Zimbabwe’s international commitments
and uphold the principles of the UN Charter, African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights, protocols and agreements. ZAPU
will promote regional integration and international cooperation for
progress, peace and well-being of humanity.
15.2. Foreign Trade and Regional Integration
At present, Zimbabwe’s foreign trade is characterised by high
dependence on imports of manufactured goods (capital, intermediate
and consumer goods), exports of primary commodities especially
minerals (gold, diamonds, platinum, copper etc) and a trade deficit of
about US$3.6 billion. About 83% of Zimbabwe’s total merchandise
exports are raw materials, and minerals account for 64%.
The country is importing mostly consumer goods which now
constitute about 65% of its total merchandise imports. The high
imports of consumer goods are a result of industrial capacity underutilisation in those industries which produce consumer goods.
Lack of financial resources and technological underdevelopment of
Zimbabwe’s economy are among the causes of industrial capacity
under-utilisation. The country must have technological capacity to
produce some of the equipment and industrial raw materials needed
by the manufacturing industries.
The policy objective of Zimbabwe’s foreign trade under ZAPU
government will be to increase exports of manufactured goods and
reduce the country’s dependence on import of commodities. It will
produce those manufactured goods in which it has a competitive
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edge.
ZAPU government will use regional trade and investment as its main
strategies for promoting regional integration. It will promote jointventure investment within SADC and COMESA countries. It will
also increase its imports from SADC and COMESA countries as well
as increase its exports to those countries. On the issue of imports and
exports, a ZAPU government will focus on producing those goods
in which it has a competitive edge, and import from the region those
goods in which it does not havea competitive edge.
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Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU)
18 Jason Moyo Street/Connaught Avenue
Bulawayo
www.zapu.org