Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
THE Ministry of Skills Audit and Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zimbabwe Diaspora Nation Building Initiative (ZDNI) to establish a structured platform for knowledge exchange, skills transfer and investment in human capital.
The agreement was signed in Harare this Monday ahead of the Diaspora Skills Conference scheduled for August this year.
The MoU formalises a partnership aimed at connecting Zimbabwean professionals in the diaspora with local training institutions, industries and development programmes to support national skills development.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development, Ambassador Rudo Chitiga, said the partnership will help create a comprehensive database of skilled Zimbabweans living abroad and facilitate targeted skills development initiatives.
“The MoU we are signing today seeks to organise our work with the diaspora and create skills-based or sector-based databases of skilled professionals across the world. Through this platform, we can work together to develop skills locally, upskill our people and design training programmes that address specific skills gaps,” she said.
Zimbabwe Diaspora Nation Building Initiative Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Matsvai, said the organisation’s role is to harness the expertise of Zimbabweans living abroad and channel it towards national development.
“Our role is to bring synergies. We are at our best when we are connected and when we play to the strengths of our members. As we contribute to nation-building, we need to identify Zimbabweans leading in various fields of knowledge and find ways of engaging them so that their expertise can help address critical skills shortages in the country,” he said.
Government has identified the diaspora community as a key resource for national development, with millions of Zimbabweans living abroad possessing valuable technical and professional expertise.
The partnership is aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies workforce skills development as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
