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Economy. ZCTU press statement on the deportation of COSATU
(2005)
Author: Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
URL: http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/lab/050202zctu.asp?sector=LAB&range_start=1
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Liberalisation taking away people?s rights
Statement by Zimbabwe civil society organisations
(2004)
We, the trade and economic justice activists from various civil society organisations in Zimbabwe, including the media, representatives of the business sector, academics, farmers and peasant movements, labour, students, consumer movements met in Nyanga to review post-Cancun developments especially negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU.
We note that these have got far-reaching implications on national economies, people?s livelihoods and the role of the state as a provider of basic social services: health, education, water, transport, food etc. We observed that Africa is under siege and experiencing re-colonisation through corporate-led globalisation being championed by economic and financial institutions: The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the WTO. The WTO has emerged as one of the most powerful and influential international institutions since its establishment in 1995 and has set the legal framework for multilateral rules not only on strictly trade issues but also with regard to other dimensions like services, intellectual property and agriculture. The interests of the WTO does not only lie on its regulation and monitoring of trade agreements between and amongst member countries, but also on the fact that its agenda extends into domestic policy forcing national policies to be WTO compliant. These developments plus the current Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations between the EU and Africa have negative implications on national economies. For Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, the notion that people first before profits should be the basis on which the country must negotiate.
On the question What is the way forward? it was agreed that the determining factor in the whole process is national self-determination. This should be the main strategy of fighting the unequal system and it will involve:
? deconstructing the dominant ideology of neo-liberalism which holds that the free market principles are fundamental to development. This ideology is promoted by the World Bank, IMF and the WTO. We should centre our development options whose foundation should be a domestic demand driven strategy
? strengthening trade negotiators? capacity to fully analyse the implications of regional and multilateral trade agreements and work out holistic negotiating strategies. This must include all stakeholders including the private sector, civil society organisations, government officials, the media and workers representatives (a process that is already in motion)
? protecting local infant industries and all other established industries from unfair competition brought about by liberalisation
? strengthening local industries first. The government should give incentives to local producers and manufacturers especially in the agro-processing industries for value added goods. There should also be a beneficiation mechanism for the mineral and natural resources the countries are endowed with.
? Regional integration to fight empire-led integration and fragmentation of Africa. In that sense Southern African countries should engage in building a regional strategy in all sectors e.g. Regional industrial strategy, agricultural strategy, rural development strategy etc.
? Policy on science and technology, based on indigenous resources and knowledge systems
? Government and relevant stakeholders to look at the deprived and marginalised sections of the society not just from a welfare perspective but from an empowering one. This means building on the creativity and energy of the people. Concretely, it means putting effective resources (knowledge, money, institutions, infrastructure, etc,) in the hands of small farmers, small and medium scale enterprises, indigenous business-people that produce for the domestic market, indigenous scientists and technicians, and so on.
? Simplified trade terminology so that information is easily understood and absorbed by a wider audience.
Civil society has become a crucial partner to African governments in international trade strategies. It is therefore important that Zimbabwe ensures the survival and strengthening of its civil society.
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