By Own Correspondent

ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called for the immediate establishment of an independent Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF) in a bid to improve the efficiency of social dialogue in the country.

Speaking to The Worker on the sidelines of the ongoing TNF workshop currently underway in the resort town of Victoria Falls, ZCTU secretary general, Japhet Moyo said the establishment of an independent system would improve the platform’s efficiency.

“A strong view to establish an independent secretariat has been tabled here by social partners. Currently, the secretariat is hosted in the Labour Ministry. Labour is of the view that such a move will see all the parties approaching dialogue at par,” he said.

Moyo said the meeting is also diagnosing the problems which have affected the smooth operation of the TNF in order to revamp the platform’s efficiency.

“As you may be aware, the TNF has been operational and only became a legislative body in the last two years so there are a number of teething problems which we are still experiencing. The idea is that we must move as one in transforming the socio-economic challenges affecting the country,” he said.

The ZCTU leader said there were also discussions on the need to avoid errant behavior like the walk out which was once staged by the trade unionists sometime this year as they protested against what they described as government’s “anti-worker” conduct.

Also speaking to The Worker,   Labour Minister, Paul Mavima said time has come for the TNF to take a leading role in solving the country’s problems.

“The challenges confronting the nation today must be dealt with by the TNF because it represents diverse citizens across the country from labour, business to government. It is the best unit to proffer the much needed solutions from a nationalistic stand point,” he said.