By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Zimbabwe’s unions, private sector players, and civil society organizations are finding common ground in an effort to address pressing social justice issues.
Amidst a growing crisis of public distrust in government institutions, stakeholders are turning to dialogue to build consensus on labor rights, wages, and equitable policies.
Organizations like the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) are advocating for stronger protections for workers, particularly in mining and agriculture, sectors often criticized for exploitative conditions.
Meanwhile, partnerships with global bodies like the International Labour Organization (ILO) have brought attention to the need for inclusive policies.
In Zimbabwe, the Global Coalition for Social Justice dialogue opened on Monday in Harare aimed at intensifying collective efforts to urgently address social justice deficits and to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Decent Work Agenda.
The event was attended by Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General, Mr Gilbert F Houngbo who came to Zimbabwe for the first time and various labour organisations.
The event was held under the theme ‘Unpacking of the Global Coalition for Social Justice in Zimbabwe’.
Over 80% of Zimbabwe’s workforce operates in the informal sector, often without labor protections.
The country’s poverty rate stands at 38.3%, with disparities in income and opportunity worsening tensions.
Experts’ Insights
“Social dialogue is the cornerstone of advancing labor rights and reducing inequality,” says ILO advisor Maria Gonzalez. She notes that platforms for collaboration could improve Zimbabwe’s standing in global labor markets while addressing internal challenges.
Ms Philile Masuku, the Director of the ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, said the Global Coalition for Social Justice creates a collaborative space for action, dialogue, and advocacy, in which partners shape individual and collective opportunities for concrete actions and tangible outcomes.
“The ultimate goal will be to achieve a greater balance amongst the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, to significantly reduce inequalities and poverty, and to meet essential needs and opportunities worldwide. Overlapping crises and the acceleration of long-term structural economic transformations are making it harder to achieve social justice and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Social justice makes societies and economies function better, reduces poverty, inequalities, and social tensions, and plays an important role in achieving shared prosperity, stability for peace, and more inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. Clearly, the quest for social justice, at the heart of the ILO’s constitutional mandate, goes beyond the world of work and requires the involvement of the entire multilateral system,” she said.
Mr Houngbo said there was need for Africans to strengthen the social dimension of sustainable development.
“At the moment we need three or four dimensions – I mean the economic, the technological, the environmental, and the social. Where we are now, of course, when you talk about social justice, there are so many dimensions that you could cover, that at one point, we have to go also from ambition to pragmatism. So, we are defining, but we are also trying to go beyond six major thematics, from which we have some thematics. So, in total, we are pushing for around 15, or 16 thematic areas where members of the coalition could choose,” he said.
Mr Houngbo expressed concern over growing inequalities in both middle-income countries and low-income countries.
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary Mr Simon Masanga said the Ministry had improved conditions of service for government workers, thereby addressing income disparities.
However, challenges persist. Fragmented communication and mistrust between the government and unions often stifle progress.
Analysts suggest that fostering trust through transparent policymaking and consistent dialogue could unlock Zimbabwe’s potential to create fairer labor markets and a more cohesive society.
Unions have been vocal about low wages and unsafe working conditions, particularly in mining. In response, initiatives like the National Tripartite Negotiating Forum (NTNF) aim to create consensus-driven labor policies.
However, trust deficits between unions and government remain a barrier to progress.
As Zimbabwe navigates economic recovery, fostering a culture of collaboration can pave the way for fairer labor practices and inclusive growth.
The journey toward social justice depends on the willingness of all parties to build trust and find common ground.
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