The educational skills transfer programme between Zimbabwe and Rwanda was undertaken after careful planning, negotiations and rigorous engagement among experts from both countries, the Government has said.
In a statement, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said they were shocked by the “irresponsible and unfounded utterances” attributed to Mr Tapedza Zhou, the secretary general of Education Union of Zimbabwe, Dr Takavafira Zhou, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president and Mr Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, pertaining to the situation of Zimbabwean educational personnel and other specialists seconded to Rwanda.
“The Government of Zimbabwe wishes to inform the public and concerned stakeholders that the educational skills transfer programme between the two sister Republics was undertaken after careful planning, negotiations and rigorous engagement among experts of both countries,” said the Ministry.
“The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which underpins the exchange arrangement has become a continental template for Bilateral Labour Agreements as it mainstreams all principles and facets of fair labour migration and decent work.
“It was examined by specialists from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and experts from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who both confirmed that the MoU is in sync with International Labour Standards and also meets fundamental principles of fair and ethical labour migration.”
The Government added that the MoU was also subjected to national approval processes for public agreements and met all expected requirements. “Accordingly, there is no shred of truth on the baseless utterances regarding the MoU as submitted by the aforementioned failed politicians masquerading as trade unionists.
“The Government of Zimbabwe comprehensively prepared the educational experts and other specialists through a pre-departure training programme where all relevant information regarding deployment to Rwanda was availed to all successful candidates including expected conditions of service in Rwanda.
“This was meant to give successful candidates an opportunity to make informed decisions prior to accepting the offer for employment in Rwanda. Representatives of the Republic of Rwanda also participated in the pre- departure training. The Government of Zimbabwe also facilitated the signing of contracts in Zimbabwe by the successful candidates with a view to guaranteeing the agreed conditions of service before departure for Rwanda,” reads the statement.
All the successful candidates who signed contracts before departure were satisfied with the proposed terms as they surpassed expectations.
Successful candidates were accompanied to Rwanda by a delegation of senior Government officials who ensured that the agreed terms were accorded to the recruited Zimbabwean experts. This included visits to the stations where the teachers and other specialists were deployed.
Government says the delegation was satisfied with the arrangements accorded to the Zimbabweans.
The Rwandan government magnanimously offered to pay rent for the first three months with a view of enabling the seconded personnel to easily settle and adjust to the experience in Rwanda.
Further, Rwanda has facilitated acquisition of work permits for all the recruited educational experts and other specialists from Zimbabwe, which guarantees them rights of stay in Rwanda as well as access to financial services, resulting in most of them applying for loans to initiate projects back home.
Said the Government: “It is misleading to suggest in this era of modern technology that the teachers are not allowed to communicate with their families directly.
“The government of Rwanda facilitated the provision of mobile phone sim cards to every recruited Zimbabwean on arrival with pre-loaded minimal air time to facilitate communication with families. The Zimbabwe Embassy in Rwanda has also been going around the work stations providing consular services to the seconded Zimbabwean experts and specialists in Rwanda. “There is verifiable evidence that the Government is inundated with requests from those in Zimbabwe regarding next recruitments on account of positive reports from those who are now working in Rwanda.”
The Government added that it was satisfied with the situation of the educational personnel seconded in Rwanda.
Teachers who are in constant communication with both the Zimbabwe Embassy in Kigali and the Joint Recruitment Committee from Zimbabwe have expressed satisfaction with their condition of service in Rwanda such that most have requested the facilitation of their families to join them.
“So the purported narrative of slavery conditions does not hold water. Furthermore, the seconded teachers and other specialists in Rwanda have responded with dismay at the shameless utterances by those seeking undeserved relevance.
“It is unfortunate that the aforementioned individuals have sought to find relevance through spreading falsehoods on a programme that has strengthened collaboration between two countries. The Government of Zimbabwe remains resolute to protect its citizens through extending similar bilateral labour agreements with countries hosting Zimbabweans using the Rwandan experience as a benchmark,” reads the statement.
The Government assured Rwanda that it was fully committed to continue strengthening cooperation in all fields between the two sister Republics and will not be distracted by baseless criticism from failed pseudo trade unionists bent on tarnishing progressive initiatives of the Second Republic. – The Herald
