Government, organised business and organised labour have adopted a 2026–2030 National Social Contract aimed at strengthening social dialogue, accountability and cooperation in support of inclusive and sustainable national development.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Zhemu Soda announced the development during a Post-Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare on Tuesday.
The Social Contract outlines the rights and obligations of Government, business and labour while establishing a framework for the three social partners to collaborate in addressing national priorities.
The initiative is aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), under which the Tripartite Negotiating Forum was tasked with strengthening social cohesion through trust, dialogue and shared national values.
The agreement was developed through consultations involving Government, seven business organisations led by the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe and three labour federations and confederations.
These include the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions and Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions.
Dr Soda said the framework was informed by international experiences, drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, Tunisia and Sweden, which have implemented social contracts as part of broader economic and social transformation programmes.
The National Social Contract is structured around three interconnected pillars — economic, labour and social — which provide a framework for addressing key national challenges while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
The agreement is expected to provide a platform for continued engagement among the social partners on issues affecting the economy, workers and broader society.
Meanwhile, Government is stepping up preparations for the 2026/2027 rainfall season, with Zimbabwe set to commence cloud-seeding operations on November 1.
The programme is part of measures being put in place to mitigate the potential impact of Super El Niño conditions during the upcoming rainfall season.
Dr Soda said three aircraft would be deployed from bases in Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo to cover different parts of the country.
The Harare base will serve all Mashonaland provinces, while the Bulawayo base will cover the Matabeleland provinces.
The Masvingo base will cover the Midlands, Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
Government is continuing to mobilise the resources required to ensure the successful implementation of the cloud-seeding programme as preparations for the 2026/2027 agricultural season intensify.
The measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate-related challenges and protect livelihoods during the forthcoming rainfall season.
