There can't be democracy without social justice, says Marzouki
By Mwala Kalaluka in Geneva, Switzerland
Wed 13 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
MINORITY governments which ruled with iron and fire will never return, says newly-elected Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki. And Spain's Prince Felipe says measures to halt the destruction of jobs should go together with measures to boost growth.
President Marzouki said in his first address to the ongoing International Labour Conference at the United Nations offices in Geneva on Friday that there can never be democracy without social justice.
President Marzouki, whose country sparked the Arab Spring uprisings through the ouster of president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali; one of the African leaders that stashed their loot in countries like Switzerland, warned the international community that failure to respond to popular demands for social justice could rapidly lead to violence.
"The people will never again accept poverty and marginalisation," he said in his address delivered in Arabic. "Democracy cannot survive without social justice. For Tunisia, this means seizing a historic opportunity brought about by the economic crisis and the revolution to achieve a more just society".
President Marzouki said he would draw lessons from the successful policies in other countries, especially those in Latin America, to stimulate economic activity and curb unemployment, which he described as a major crisis in his country, more so among the youth.
"Dialogue between the government, trade unions and employers is a high priority for Tunisia," he said, adding that this dialogue will lead to the signing on January 14, 2013 of a tripartite pact for social stability, with a focus on promotion of decent work.
President Marzouki hailed the International Labour Organisation's contribution to this process, as well as the support it has given Tunisia since December 2010.
However, President Marzouki conceded that achieving sustainable development in Tunisia would be a long and difficult battle.
And Prince Felipe of Asturias, who is heir to the Spanish throne, said in his address to the International Labour Conference that the economic crisis has painful consequences for the world of work.
"We fully realise that in order to achieve progress, we need to fight actively against unemployment so that our young people can obtain sustainable and decent work," Prince Felipe said.
"While there is no single solution to tackle the challenge of youth unemployment, it is essential to take an integrated approach which combines macro- and micro-economic interventions and that focuses on supply and demand in the labour market, as well as on the quality of jobs."
The 101st International Labour Conference which ends tomorrow will utilise reports from the various committees and hear addresses from President Ollanta Humala Tasso of Peru, President Ricardo Martinelli Beroccal of the Republic of Panama and Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.
A high-level panel discussion on the lessons from the crisis in the framework of the Global Jobs Pact has also been lined up for today.
Labels: SOCIAL CONTRACT
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Mining companies and social responsibility
By The Post
Sun 15 Apr. 2012, 13:30 CAT
IN life, it is very important to be clear about things; to harbour no illusions. Richard Musukwa, our Deputy Minister of Mines, says investors in the mining sector must help government deliver its promises on infrastructure development.Richard says it is unacceptable that various mining townships on the Copperbelt had dilapidated road infrastructure and recreation facilities when the country had continued to attract huge investments in the mining sector.
And according to Richard, the government expects transnational mining companies to demonstrate true corporate citizenship by supplementing the government's efforts of delivering development to the people. Richard further reveals that the government is not happy that roads in mining townships are in a deplorable state while mining companies are making huge profits from copper.
He says the massive investment in the mining sector must translate into tangible economic and social benefit to the country and the people who live in mining towns. And that the government is currently working on deliberate policies that would make mining companies more responsive to the people and the country's needs.
He warns that the government will not allow a situation where many people will continue to live in poverty and poor conditions when the country is rich in mineral resources. And Richard goes on to thank, on behalf of the government, Konkola Copper Mines for setting aside US$5 million for the rehabilitation of township roads in Chingola and Chililabombwe.
These are nice things to say. Richard is a nice guy. But the mining transnational corporations are not here to be nice. They are here to make money, make super profits as far as possible. That's what they are here for. The things Richard is talking about belong to an era that is gone, an era whose hour is gone.
When mining started in this territory, the government was under a corporate entity - the British South Africa Company. The company and the government were one. The responsibilities of the company and the government were not divisible.
They provided almost everything that was needed for them to carry out their mining operations. The mining townships Richard is talking about were also theirs. And whatever roads were there were predominantly used by themselves. And when these mines were nationalised, ZCCM carried on that tradition and improved on it.
The new mining owners who came after the privatisation of ZCCM made it very clear from the very beginning that they were not interested in taking over these responsibilities and did not buy the mining townships. They were not interested in providing the social services that used to be provided by the previous mining entities. They were simply here for mining and making a profit from mining.
[Well if Zambia would ever have a government that was not corrupt, they would have said - either you take over the previous 'social responsibility', or you pay every cent of taxes that you owe. - MrK]
To expect them to now act otherwise is a fleeting illusion. It is the duty of the government to provide and maintain the necessary infrastructure and social services required by the mining townships. And the government is not helpless in this endeavour. It has powers to adequately tax these transnational mining corporations and use the money to develop the country and provide the necessary social services to all our people.
Going to ask mining companies who are refusing to pay more taxes, who want to pay less taxes, to provide money for the development and maintenance of infrastructure in mining townships may be hoping for too much. Today, the government is thanking KCM for setting aside US$5million for the rehabilitation of township roads in Chingola and Chililabombwe.
Why should they thank them? We are not asking this question as a sign of lack of gratitude on our part. We are asking this question because we know very well that the US$5 million they are setting aside is nothing compared to the taxes that could have been collected by the government if adequate and reasonable taxes were levied.
Konkola Copper Mines are laughing when offering this money because it means nothing to them compared to the taxes they would have paid if proper taxes were levied. The government is actually thanking Konkola Copper Mines for giving them less change, for shortchanging them.
There is no need for the government to go begging for money from these companies that could have been theirs if proper taxes were levied. In fact, this argument can be extended further to say that even the aid we go and beg for from the countries where these companies come from is our own money.
It is the tax that we should have collected here which ends up being collected by the governments of countries where these companies come from.
[Or not at all. Remember that these corporations have headquarters in tax shelters - The Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Jersey, Switzerland. In fact the donor aid that certain governments pay are the taxes collected from ordinary working and middle class citizens and ordinary companies. They are paying the taxes that transnational corporations are not paying. Tax evasion is an international criminal scam. - MrK]
If proper taxes were levied, there is no way Konkola Copper Mines would part with US$5 million to fix roads they don't own. They are not fools. They are very prudent in their expenditure - they don't incur unnecessary costs just as much as they don't pay taxes they can avoid.
We understand Richard's thinking. It is the thinking of every decent person that a business enterprise must be a community of solidarity and that businesses should be characterised by their capacity to serve the common good of society. To Richard and others who see things that way, the motive of business should be not only to make profit but even more to contribute to the common good of society. But this is not the way these transnational mining corporations look at things.
They are not here for solidarity; they are here to maximise profits and get away with as much money as possible. And this is why when they make even a small donation to any cause, everyone has to know about it; all the television stations and the press will be there to cover that small donation. This is what guides their donations - positive publicity to fool some people while they get away with very low taxes.
We are not interested in mining companies running our townships. We want them to pay reasonable taxes so that together with our government, we can decide how to best use that money to develop our country and improve the living conditions of our people.
We can't be begging for money that is ours. We are not interested in donations from mining companies; what we are interested in is fair and reasonable taxes and just wages for our people and respect for the environment.
If these companies were paying reasonable taxes, they would not be interested in any way to take up responsibilities they had from the very inception refused.
Labels: KCM, MINING, SOCIAL CONTRACT, WINDFALL TAX
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Govt to implement public welfare assistance scheme – RB
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 8:30
President Rupiah Banda says government through the Ministry of community Development and Social Services will implement the public welfare assistant scheme throughout the country. Mr. Banda says this will be in form of educational support, food and shelter to incapacitated individuals and households.
The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President George Kunda during this year’s Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremony of the Lunda people of Zambezi district today.
And President Banda has said government will continue supporting and respecting traditional ceremonies because of their importance in the preservation of culture which he said was an important cornerstone in building a strong foundation in communities.
Mr. Banda said traditional ceremonies also provide a platform for government and other stakeholders to explain development strategies and programmes taking place in the country.
Meanwhile, President Banda has said government has put in place suitable policies to assist vulnerable households headed by orphans, widows and the disabled.
He named some of the programmes as the food security pack under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the Fertilizer Support programme under the Ministry of Finance.
And Mr. Banda has called upon traditional leaders to discourage risky traditional practices such as wife inheritance and sexual cleansing because they increase the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS.
He said the traditional leaders should instead encourage girl child education and condemn the practice of early marriages.
And Senior Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people in Zambezi district said the Lunda Lubanza Traditional ceremony was a unifying factor for Lunda speaking people in Congo DR, Angola and Zambia.
Chief Ishindi said the presence of the Emperor Mwata Yamvu from Congo was A clear testimony of the unity that existed among the Lunda.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lunda Lubanza Cultural Association Chairman BENSON MAHAFU.
The Chief called upon government to establish and construct a skills farming centre in the district.
The ceremony was also attended by the Emperor Mwata Yamvu and ten other chiefs from the Democrtic Republic of Congo.
ZANIS
Labels: CHIEF ISHINDI, GEORGE KUNDA, RUPIAH BANDA, SOCIAL CONTRACT, SOCIAL SECURITY, WELFARE
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Zambia facing social discontent, says clergy
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wednesday July 02, 2008 [04:00]
ZAMBIA has been cited as one of the countries experiencing a deep social discontent among the majority of the population despite the 'peace' it is enjoying. Presenting a paper entitled ‘Situational Analysis on Conflicts, Wars and Instabilities in East Africa’, during the assembly of regional Roman Catholic bishops in Lusaka on Monday, Fr Elias Opongo of the Jesuit Hakimani Centre in Nairobi described most African countries as stale democracies.
"Most African countries continue to experience stale democracies where there seem not to be development and human progress," Fr Opongo told the AMECEA plenary assembly. "These countries could be ‘peaceful’ but at the same time experiencing a deep discontent among majority of the population largely due to historical injustices, corrupt practices of government officials, poor infrastructure, partisan institutions of governance, lack of employment opportunities and unfair distribution of resources. Such is the case in Zambia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania."
Fr Opongo said a quick look at AMECEA countries revealed a region faced with serious challenges ranging from social integration and political stability.
"On the other hand, while Zambia has been stable for many years and registered democratic progress, corruption and lack of agrarian reform has seen Zambia experience food shortages despite having 70 per cent of arable land," he said.
Fr Opongo explained that it was from this basis that the church's role in social development and transformation was relevant.
"We tell the story not so much to depict only the negative social, political and economic challenges. Instead we tell it in the light of social analysis, which aims at engaging into a faith that does justice," he said. "As such, we need to build a church that is prophetic, vigilant and intrusive. Prophetic by pronouncing the values of the gospel without fear and being ready to accompany the people in their moments of joy and suffering."
Fr Opongo said political leadership was largely responsible for the current unpredictable state of the continent, hence the need to advocate for accountable leadership.
"The discontent with poor political leadership has led to the search for alternative voices and mechanisms to social transformation," said Fr Opongo. "The unrest in Africa; Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroun, Ivory Coast and Nigeria has shown that democratic progress without economic integration and increased popular participation in the social organisation makes a country vulnerable to political instability."
The AMECEA Assembly is being held under the theme, ‘Reconciliation Through Justice and Peace’.
Labels: GOVERNANCE, SOCIAL CONTRACT
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Social contract signed
By Victoria Ruzvidzo and Peter Matambanadzo
GOVERNMENT, business and labour yesterday signed three protocols including the Incomes and Pricing Stabilisation Protocol, in a landmark demonstration of unity of purpose in stabilising the economy. The Protocol on Restoration of Production Viability and one on Mobilisation, Pricing and Management of Foreign Currency were also signed as being key to the economic turnaround process. Government, business and labour make up the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.
Among other key deliverables under the protocols, inflation is expected to be reduced to 25 percent by the end of this year. Presently it is above 3 700 percent. Furthermore, the Government budget deficit is expected to come down to 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Efforts will be made by all the three partners to ensure that foreign currency is transacted through formal channels while the livelihood of the majority is Zimbabweans is expected to improve significantly within the next few months.
Government was represented by the Minister of Economic Development, Cde Sylvester Nguni, while Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe president Mr Johnson Manyakara signed on behalf of business.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions first vice-president Ms Lucia Matibenga, Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union president Mr Alfred Makwarimba and Apex Council chairperson Ms Tendai Chikowore signed on behalf of labour. The Apex Council groups bodies representing civil servants. However, ZCTU only signed the Incomes and Pricing Stabilisation Protocol saying they had not discussed with their constituency on the other two. The other labour bodies signed all three.
The signing of these protocols is a culmination of 120 days of intense deliberations as three social partners sought to come up with a sustainable social contract as a solid foundation on which economic revival will take off.
The Incomes and Pricing Stabilisation Protocol’s main objectives are to provide an environment conducive to the restoration of macro-economic stability, promotion of economic recovery and sustainable socio-economic development.
The protocol also seeks to ensure that any agreed formula of restraining price movement takes into account legitimate cost increases in a transparent and accountable manner while also managing the movement of incomes and pricing in the context of an unstable macroeconomic environment.
With effect from yesterday each of the three social partners will be expected to undertake their respective obligations.
Among other things, Government, under the Incomes and Pricing Stabilisation Protocol, will be expected to continually review tax incentives that boost disposable incomes while taking cognisance of the Poverty Datum Line.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is required to continue to put in place measures that ensure a full account of all foreign currency in the economy.
Business will be expected to supply goods and services at affordable and competitive prices while promoting corporate responsibility towards payment of tax and remittance of foreign currency to the Reserve Bank.
Labour is mandated to, among other things, promote and advocate that workers receive decent wages linked to the Poverty Datum Line while also promoting productivity enhancement measures.
The Salary and Wages Advisory Board will monitor incomes while the National Incomes and Prices Commission will monitor the prices.
The key objectives of the Restoration of Production Viability Protocol will be the improvement in productivity levels and production capacity utilisation.
It will also foster macro-economic stability, economic turnaround and shared growth.
Under this protocol, Government will remove all price distortions and provide targeted social safety nets and restore Zimbabwe’s breadbasket status through a number of initiatives.
It will be expected to respond swiftly to requests for tariff and other countervailing measures to promote business viability.
Government will also be required to review its budget and come up with a primary budget position that is consistent with the restoration of macro-economic stability.
Business will have to supply goods and services at affordable and competitive prices while promoting entrepreneurship, fair business and transparent pricing practices, among other obligations.
Labour, in this instance, will be required to fully promote and support worker empowerment initiatives and the indigenisation of the economy. It will also be mandated to promote industrial peace and harmony.
This protocol will run for 12 months with effect from yesterday.
The objectives of the Protocol on Mobilisation, Pricing and Management of Foreign Currency are to ensure that foreign currency is available in the official system for all legitimate transactions thereby ensuring that most transactions take place in the official market.
It will also be required to capture the majority of foreign currency inflows from the Diaspora while ensuring viability of exporters at all times.
The protocol also seeks to reduce the exchange rate price distortion and reduce smuggling and leakages of foreign currency.
Government is expected to implement agreed foreign currency management framework as specified in the protocol within seven days from the signing of the protocol while developing an implementation matrix for longer term mobilisation measures.
Recipients will be encouraged to use formal channels to transact funds from the Diaspora.
Business, which has in many instances been found wanting in terms of foreign currency remittances, will be expected to promote corporate responsibility towards payment of tax and timeous remittance of foreign exchange through formal channels in line with Exchange Control Regulations.
Furthermore, it will be expected to seek commercial foreign lines of credit while also encouraging foreign companies and other trading partners to invest in Zimbabwe.
Labour has been strongly urged to encourage recipients of foreign currency to use formal channels to transact funds from relatives in the Diaspora.
The protocol will run for the next 12 months.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and TNF chairman, Cde Nicholas Goche, said the historic signing of the protocols would augur well for the country.
"There is still a lot of work to be done so that we achieve the objectives that we set for ourselves. I must say we should continue to tolerate and respect each other’s views so that we progress," he said, stressing that the signing of the protocols was a demonstration of the "Zimbabwe First" concept adopted at the Vumba social retreat in March.
RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono, who acts as advisor to the social dialogue process, described the signing as a major step towards economic regeneration.
He is credited for having resuscitated the social dialogue process as a strategy to help eliminate the challenges besetting the economy.
"The real journey has just started. In strategy they say the devil is in the details of implementation.
"Let us all now rally together on the actual implementation of the various tangible commitments that are spelt out in the protocols.
"Let us commit to arrest any further deterioration in our economic environment over the next 120 days and set the scene for rapid recovery.
"I want to also commend Government, labour and business for coming to realise that through mutual dialogue and a shared vision, common interests can be achieved in a cohesive way, one that is an indispensable prerequisite for any economic turnaround," he said.
The Governor also commended the United Nations Development Programme and the International Labour Organisation for their support.
Cde Nguni said Government was ready to play its role effectively.
"We have taken the first step to address the economic ills and hard policy decisions will need to be made," he said.
Speaking on behalf of business, Mr Manyakara described the signing as a major milestone in the history of the country.
"We have managed to build trust and subordinate sectoral interests for national interests."
Labour representatives from ZCTU, ZFTU and the Apex Council roundly welcomed the signing of the protocols, undertaking to meet their end of the bargain.
Labels: INFLATION, LABOUR, SOCIAL CONTRACT, THE HERALD, ZIMBABWE
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