The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
Government recently invited all those who graduated from tertiary colleges to forward their names for possible employment in several African countries with which it has signed agreements for labour exportation.
Teachers’ unions and educationalists welcomed the development, saying it will not only promote “brain circulation” but will also see Government commercially benefiting from the agreements.
However, some stakeholders described the exercise as “brain drain”, further arguing that exporting labour may result in the country losing its best “brains” to countries that offer better salaries and working conditions.
Brain drain, also known as human capital flight, refers to the emigration of intelligent, well-educated individuals to somewhere for better pay or conditions, causing the place they came from to lose those skilled “brains”.
The invitation by Government, which was made by Dr Godfrey Gandawa, the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development received mixed views from stakeholders in the education sector.
In a snap survery carried out by this paper, a section of those interviewed questioned the motive of the Government in coming up with such an exercise, with suggestions that Government is seeking to raise funds through the exercise.
“To me, this is a fund-raising gimmick by Government. Why would someone need a middleman when that person can apply directly to the foreign companies?” asked Rueben Mahembe, an unemployed University of Zimbabwe graduate.
Others are of the opinion that the call is an admission of failure by Government to create employment opportunities for its people.
The labour exportation debate spilled onto the social media with one of the contributors describing the exercise as “legal pimping” and a “human trafficking exercise”.
Following the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, some contributors argued that the lives of the local professionals will be at risk in such countries like South Africa and South Sudan, among other politically unstable countries.
however, the majority of the educationalists that were interviewed welcomed the exercise, with some saying Government should have initiated the programme “a long time ago”.
Professor Levy Nyagura, the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, gave the exercise a thumbs-up.
“It is essential that we export the labour that we cannot absorb. The University of Zimbabwe, which churns some of the graduates, is a key player in this exercise,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s universities churn out more than 10 000 graduates every year with thousands more coming from polytechnics, teacher’s colleges and other institutions of higher learning.
Prof Nyagura said labour exportation will benefit the country.
“This is not brain drain. In essence, we will be exporting our culture,” added Prof Nyagura.
Mr William Mukuwapasi, an educationist and director of Knowstics Academy, one of the country’s top performing schools, said labour exportation is a common trend that will benefit all the parties involved.
“This is a win-win situation. Both the Zimbabwe Government and the countries that will be hosting the professionals will benefit. The unemployed professionals will also benefit,” Mr Mukuwapasi said.
“Brain circulation” has gained popularity as skilled labour from certain countries emigrate to other countries in search of better opportunities.
Countries like India benefitted from the concept as engineers from its premier engineering institutes emigrated, on a large scale, to other countries.
The 2014 Labour Force Survey, which was compiled by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency says the country has an unemployment rate of 11 percent.
According to the survey, most people are now employed in the informal sector. Independent economists, however, say the country’s unemployment rate is at over 80 percent.
It is estimated that over 300 000 students are churned out of schools, colleges and universities every year to join millions already unemployed.
“There is need for Government to first identify the market. Since this will be a government-to-government exercise, clear bilateral agreements must be signed. As of now, we are not aware of the intended market,” Mr Rafemoyo said.
Mr Rafemoyo said it will be cheaper for the countries that will be importing labour to directly engage the professionals as opposed to engaging the Government.
“Remember the countries will have to pay Government and this makes the deal a bit expensive for them. However, if the modalities are put into place, brain circulation can benefit both the governments and the professionals,” Mr Rafemoyo added.
Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, said a lot of things must be looked into before labour is exported.
“This is a sensitive issue which needs Cabinet approval. I suggest you speak to my minister, she is better placed to comment on the issue,” Dr Mapuranga said.
However, efforts to get a comment from Dr Oppah Muchinguri, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development, were fruitless.
