Zimbabwe May 2006 |
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| Massive brain drain hemorrhages security forces, (Zim Online, 2006-05-10):-Zimbabwe's security forces have suffered the most from a massive brain-drain affecting the country, with thousands of servicemen and women leaving to work as private security guards in neighbouring countries, according to a confidential government report shown to ZimOnline on Tuesday. The report says the brain-drain is reaching "unsustainable levels" in the public sector, while expressing concern that having former soldiers and police officers with "intense knowledge" about Zimbabwe's security systems scattered in neighbouring states could compromise the country's security. The report, prepared by the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare which employs all government workers, reads in part: "Staff turnover in the public service is reaching unsustainable levels …. almost all government departments are affected by these high levels (of staff turnover). "But most affected are security agencies, of note the army and the police who are leaving to take work in other SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries." The 16-page report, together with reports from other government departments, will be used to formulate plans to improve the civil service and retain staff. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche and Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi were not immediately available for comment on the matter. Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, in charge of the police, said he was unaware of the report and declined to comment specifically on its contents. Mohadi however admitted that the police force was losing its officers who were going abroad to seek better opportunities although he said this was the case with every other employer in the country today. He said: "There is a general drain in the country and that is widely accepted. The police force is not an island. But we have an efficient recruitment policy that ensures that we always have enough manpower as per our requirements. In fact we have more people waiting to join us than those leaving." The report said because of their reputable training and experience, Zimbabwean soldiers and police officers were able to find work as private security guards especially in South Africa. The lowest paid private guard in South Africa earns more than a Zimbabwean soldier or policeman. The government will incur huge costs training more soldiers and police to replace those leaving, while the former security workers are a potential threat to Zimbabwe's security, according to the report. "Unlike in other fields, the government pays directly for the training of soldiers and policemen and the costs could soar if experienced staff is not retained. The country's security is also not served well by having people who trained as security personnel and have intense knowledge about the country's security systems scattered in neighbouring countries," reads the report. Once one of Africa's best prospects of economic success, Zimbabwe has grappled a severe economic and food crisis since 2000, critics blame on repression and wrong policies by President Robert Mugabe such as his farm seizure programme that destabilised the mainstay agricultural sector. Zimbabwe's crisis has manifested itself through acute shortages of foreign currency, fuel and food, while the rate of inflation is above 900 percent with economic analysts predicting the key rate to shoot beyond 1 000 when figures for April are announced on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have each year responded to rising joblessness and poverty by packing their bags to go abroad where more than three million of the southern African country's citizens now live, doing menial jobs to keep body and soul together. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |