LATEST: Only workers can drive ZimAsset – Minister Bimha "The employers have had to expend huge sums of money on sick leave payments, medical aid costs, funeral costs, recruitment and retraining costs."
Zimbabwe can only achieve economic prosperity with a healthy workforce

Zimbabwe can only achieve economic prosperity with a healthy workforce

Stanford Chiwanga, Online News Editor

THE Minister of Industry and Commerce Mike Bimha believes that ZimAsset will only be a success story if there are workers to drive it.

Addressing business executives at the National AIDS Council (NAC) Business Conference at Holiday Inn hotel in Bulawayo, Minister Bimha said healthy workers are needed for the economy to be turned around.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Zimbabwe can only achieve economic prosperity with a healthy workforce. The recently developed and launched ZimAsset can only succeed to set our country on a recovery path if there are workers to drive it.

“ZimAsset clearly identifies HIV and AIDS as one of its priority areas that require attention. I am therefore making an appeal to employees and employers as well as related stakeholders to prioritise strategies to address HIV at the workplace as a key requirement for achieving ZimAsset,” he said.

Minister Bimha said wining the fight against HIV and AIDS was a must for ZimAsset to succeed.

“It is imperative that we institutionalise through policies, how we conduct the various programmes on HIV and AIDS at our workplaces. I understand that technical guidance on developing the required policies is available from NAC and several of its implementing partners including institutions funded by the Global Fund.

“I appeal to the mining and related sectors to get organised through associations or related groupings for better coordination.  Better coordination is a prerequisite for many funders and technical support offering agencies. Come together and work min harmony with the rest of the sectors in the national response to HIV and AIDS,” he said.

The Minister also urged the business sector to strive to have a health workforce.

He said: “I want to urge you as the mining sector and related sectors to be creative in your leadership towards a healthy workforce for maximum profitability. The business sector has unique skills to respond in a variety of ways and programmes integrating HIV and AIDS into a holistic wellness approach. The commitment of top level management and company shareholders is essential and early action will reap tremendous savings in both economic and human terms.”

Minister Bimha said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was prepared to assist companies and mines in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

“As a ministry we will be ready to work with you and assist wherever we can, fully mindful to the fact that this will have a positive effect on productivity in the mining and related sectors. I must express the gratitude of my ministry to NAC for organising this meeting and their commitment to the vision of this country and the focus of this year’s Mine Entra on innovation, beneficiation and growth,” he said.

 

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