ZAPU. Zimbabwe African People s Union ELECTION MANIFESTO

Transcription

1 ZAPU Zimbabwe African People s Union ELECTION MANIFESTO JULY 2013

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3 ELECTION MANIFESTO OF ZIMBABWE AFRICA PEOPLE S UNION JULY 2013

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5 Contents 1. Zimbabwe s Democracy Vision and ZAPU s Mission 3 2. An accountable state committed to balanced economic development 3 3. Constitutional Issues 4 4. Corruption 6 5. Poverty Eradication, Job Creation and Work 6 6. Land Policy and Agriculture Development of Domestic Private Sector Mining, Energy and Water Resources Natural Resources, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Economic Infrastructure Gender Equality and Equity More Opportunity for Youth Education, Health, Housing and Social Development Social Security Safety Nets Foreign Policy, Foreign Trade and Regional Integration 24 1

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7 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

8 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 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. 4

9 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

10 members are elected using the first-past-the-post system; (ii) (iii) Provincial governments should have control over natural resources and environmental issues within their geographic jurisdiction; rovincial governments should have their own revenueraising systems; (iv) 4. Corruption Provinces should set priorities to meet the peculiar needs of their areas in economic, social, cultural and other spheres of development. 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

11 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 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 7

12 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 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 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

13 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 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 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

14 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 Land Policy The main components of ZAPU s land policy include the following: (i) (ii) (iii) Equitable distribution of land taking into account the agro-ecological endowment of regions Putting a limit to an amount of land owned by private individuals or companies, and monitoring (under) utilization and hoarding; Promoting access to land by women and youth and overcoming artificial barriers to their production potential; 10

15 (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) Conservation and sustainable use of land for the present and future generations; No foreigners and foreign companies will permanently own land in Zimbabwe, but they will be permitted to lease land for a given period; Reduction of reliance on subsistence farming by creating productive employment in non-farming sectors; 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 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. 11

16 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) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Fostering the growth of new industries engaged in technology development in order to reduce dependence on foreign sources for essential technology Using incentives to promote various forms of domestic savings Creating tax breaks for newly-established enterprices to speed up development Promoting rapid development of production skills for all economic sectors Improving conditions for the development and growth of small and medium scale enterprises (S.M.Es), and 12

17 (vi) 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 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 13

18 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 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 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

19 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 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 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

20 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 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

21 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 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) (ii) (iii) Roads, telecommunication network, railways, irrigation infrastructure, agricultural research stations and energy infrastructure; 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. Develop skills necessary for the above economic 17

22 infrastructure; (iv) (v) Develop research and development institutions to service the needs of the manufacturing industry; and 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 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) 18

23 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) (ii) (iii) (iv) A clearly defined policy of allocating resources for youth empowerment ( joint ventures, farming projects, finance and tenders). Skills training through Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) to develop a base for creation of industries. Ease customs duty for young entrepreneurs who want to purchase industrial technology and machinery. 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 19

24 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 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) (ii) (iii) 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; Give priority to skills development education; Introduce human rights education (to include democracy, development, peace and initial justice, and understanding of the country s constitution); 20

25 (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) Promote re-alignment of teacher s programmes to meet present and future staffing needs; Introduce an education with a priority to continuous development of science and technology, as well as democratic governance skills; A university education not only for academics but also for highly skilled industrial engineering and research in addition to science and technology; Introduce an education that caters for individual differences in children Establish child-friendly schools that classify abilities of children from an early age and channel this education according to their abilities; Education to be used as tool for survival and family life; (x) Health. 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. 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 21

26 have them; (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Maintain a conducive environment for health provision by the private sector; Promote training programmes to meet the needs of the health service, and create an attractive environment to retain trained medical personnel in the country; Make it mandatory for those in employment to contribute to medical aid schemes, and ensure that such schemes are monitored for quality service; 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 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 22

27 to identify what support they require to empower their children to live a normal life and have a livelihood. (ii) (i) (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. 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. 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 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 Water and Sanitation The availability and provision of drinking water is usually grasped very quickly as an essential necessity. ZAPU is committed to this 23

28 basic ideal but will push for the combination of water provision with sanitation in order to maximise health advantages 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) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Old age pensions Sickness benefits Maternity benefits Orphans benefits Liberation war veterans pensions National scheme of compulsory contributory pensions 24

29 15. Foreign Policy, Foreign Trade and Regional Integration 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 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 25

30 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. 26

31 Zimbabwe African People s Union (ZAPU) 18 Jason Moyo Street/Connaught Avenue Bulawayo