Harare, (New Ziana) – The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, on Wednesday said Zimbabwe’s social protection and development agenda must fully align with global and continental aspirations defined by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063. He said this while addressing delegates at the ongoing Social Protection Week commemorations in Harare.
The inaugural Social Protection Week is running under the theme: ‘Inclusive Social Protection – Every Voice, Every Need for the Future.’ “The event marks a critical juncture in our national drive to strengthen systems, empower communities, and uphold the dignity and well-being of every citizen of Zimbabwe.
It is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to advance a robust, inclusive, and sustainable social protection architecture that ensures no one or no place is left behind. As we reflect on our progress and collectively envision the future, we do so guided by our national priorities, as well as regional and global development frameworks.
“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063 frameworks urge countries to create resilient communities, inclusive growth pathways, universal access to essential services, gender equality, youth empowerment, and protection of vulnerable groups. Our interventions must therefore reflect a developmental shift from fragmented safety nets towards integrated, long-term and transformative systems that expand people’s capabilities and opportunities,” he said.
Moyo added that social protection in Zimbabwe is not confined to conventional welfare transfers as it has matured into a broad, multi-dimensional system that integrates health, education, housing, youth empowerment, women’s economic participation, livelihoods, psychosocial support, disability inclusion, social care services, community cohesion and human capital development.
Zimbabwe’s social protection and social development outcomes, he said, can only be realized through the active participation of community governance structures.
“In this respect, local authorities play a strategic role in planning, resource allocation, urban and rural service delivery, community infrastructure, disaster risk reduction and social accountability. Traditional leaders are custodians of social norms, community cohesion, dispute resolution and local knowledge systems that guide inclusive development.
“Religious institutions anchor moral guidance, psychosocial support, community mobilisation, family strengthening, and humanitarian responses. Political structures enable policy direction, legislative support, constituency engagement and oversight of service delivery. These actors mold the social fabric guided by Ubuntu philosophy that ensures interventions reach every household, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative, Etona Ekole commended Zimbabwe for the progress that has been made in building a national social protection system.
“The development of the National Social Protection Policy Framework, the Social Protection Single Registry, and ongoing work toward shock-responsive delivery systems are examples of progress that deserve recognition. UNICEF is proud to have worked with various stakeholders and partners in strengthening data systems, expanding child-sensitive social protection, and improving coordination among actors,” she said.
Ekole also reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working closely with the Government and all partners to make social protection a cornerstone of the national development agenda and a foundation for every child’s right to survive and thrive.
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