ZANU-PF to Improve Civil Servants Conditions, Says President Mugabe

Dr. Fannie Leatier of the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) during a meeting with Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. They discussed the need to create jobs and economic oppotunities for youth on the continent., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Zanu-PF to improve civil servants conditions — President

Saturday, 22 June 2013 23:16
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
Emilia Zindi

Zanu-PF will improve the working conditions of all civil servants once it wins the forthcoming harmonised elections following apparent attempts by key members of the inclusive Government to downplay the importance of public service workers, President Mugabe has said. The President also expressed concern over the alarming national divorce statistics that also involve Cabinet ministers.

Speaking at the launch of the Revised National Youth Policy in Harare yesterday, he said his party’s focus would be on the welfare of Government workers after the impending polls.

The event coincided with the 21st Session of the Junior Parliament.

“Coming from a background of being a teacher, civil servants, we are going to treat you well after the elections which we are going to win resoundingly. We will make sure schools are provided with better facilities as we are the best party with best policies which we will continue with.

“We will continue to look at the hardships that other children whose parents cannot afford paying school fees face and assist as we have done before through the BEAM. We will restore and make sure education as well as teachers and students are happier.’’

Cde Mugabe said the “two-headed” inclusive Government had worked hard to wipe out the sound policies enunciated by Zanu-PF. For instance, he said, the National Budgets of the past four years have not adequately supported progressive policies that uplift the underprivileged.

“We started way back by giving out computers to all boarding schools and if there is any school that did not receive those computers we need to know,’’ he said.

The President warned the youth against abusing hard drugs and premarital sex, saying such practices destroy the future of the nation.

“The harmful and social cultural practices could be removed, but a lot has to be done by yourselves. What do you yourselves, as the youths, believe in? Are you able to avoid being trapped in those harmful objects?

“Your parents will lament ever sending you to school vaakuti takaruza mari yedu rangove tsotsi, chidhakwa, hure.”

He said as the country marks the Day of the African Child under the theme, “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children”, harmful practices should be done away with.

He said bigger nations thrived on colonisation.

“Even today, we talk of countries that have suffered aggression because other nations want to dominate them. Shall we accept being dominated by others?’’

The President said Zimbabwe had celebrated the bravery of its young people through the Children’s Parliament which was established way back in 1991 to project their voice.

“I am delighted that the Children’s Parliament has taken root in our country and that this year we celebrate 21 years of existence.

While Government has over the years placed education and the development of the child at the core of its programmes, it has gone a step further by giving them this rare opportunity, through the Children’s Parliament, to enable them to remind us of the issues of socio-cultural practices which are harmful to them,’’ he said.

Cde Mugabe also bemoaned the upsurge in cases involving the rape of minors, warning perpetrators of stern action.

He urged adults to behave responsibly and leave examples for youths to follow.

“The divorces we have had from our seniors, looking at our own Cabinet, we ask aah, uyu ndewechingani? The children find it difficult that their mother has been rejected.

“There is always a clash between the children of the first wife and those from the second one. It is in a few circumstances that the second wife accepts children of the first wife.’’

He also encouraged youths to respect their elders.

“Never you raise your hand to strike your mother or father,’’ he said, adding that young people should aim to be employers in a Zimbabwe endowed with abundant natural resources.

The National Youth Policy was developed in 2000 to provide an enabling framework for the development of youths.

It was, however, later revised to cater for changing world trends. The policy seeks to empower young Zimbabweans to participate and contribute to the social, economic and political development of the nation.