Story by ZBC Reporter
THE Government has unveiled two national databases aimed at systematically harnessing the skills and experience of retired professionals and Zimbabweans living in the diaspora, as part of a broader strategy to accelerate economic growth, innovation, and service delivery under Vision 2030.
The databases were officially launched in Harare on Tuesday by the Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Professor Paul Mavima, who said the initiative marks a critical shift in how the country identifies, organises, and deploys its human capital.
“Zimbabwe is richly endowed with skills, experience, and knowledge. Over the years, our nation has produced highly trained professionals who have served with distinction across the public sector, private industry, academia, and international institutions. Many of these experts have retired with invaluable institutional memory, while millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora continue to excel globally in fields such as engineering, health, education, ICT, finance, science, and innovation.”
He noted that, until now, there had been no centralised national system to systematically identify, organise, and deploy this expertise for national development.
“Until now, however, there has been no centralised national mechanism to systematically identify, organise, and deploy this expertise for national development. The launch of these two databases directly addresses this gap. They transform skills from being largely invisible assets into strategic resources that drive economic growth, service delivery, innovation, and national competitiveness,” Professor Mavima said.
He added that the initiative is fully aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 1 and 2, as well as the Education 5.0 philosophy, which prioritises innovation, industrialisation, and problem-solving anchored on national heritage.
The government expects the databases to enhance skills planning, improve coordination across sectors, and ensure that both retired professionals and diaspora experts contribute meaningfully to national development efforts.
