Extracts from the 2007 MDC document entitled ‘A New Zimbabwe – A New Beginning’
Labour:
Specific programmes will be launched to attract back the large proportion of skilled workers who have left Zimbabwe in recent years for ‘greener pastures’ in neighbouring and overseas countries. While Zimbabwe is well endowed with natural resources, more important in the modern world are its human resources. The MDC will strive to create and maintain world-class training and skills-development programmes that will make it possible for the country to compete effectively in the global economy.
Home Affairs:
The Registrar General’s Office
The new Registrar-General will … be given instructions that will result in the following:
•Birth, death and marriage certificates will be issued expeditiously at all administrative offices throughout the country. Delays in serving applicants will not be tolerated, and regular surveys of customer satisfaction will be conducted by an independent agency to determine the levels of service being achieved.
• All persons born in Zimbabwe will automatically receive the right to citizenship, which will be for life and may not be revoked under any circumstances.
• All persons who have held the right of permanent residence for five years shall be eligible to apply for citizenship by registration.
• All persons marrying a person with Zimbabwe citizenship shall be entitled to citizenship by registration.
• All citizens will have the right to travel documents. Such documents will be reasonably priced in relation to their cost and be made available without difficulty by post or in person at all administrative offices of the Registrar-General. Application forms will be made readily available without charge and all applications dealt with expeditiously.
• All citizens will have the responsibility to register with the Registrar-General’s office and will receive a National Registration Number. This will be associated with a Registration Card that will be acceptable as a means of identity throughout the country. Registration and the subsequent issuance of the appropriate documentation will be completed in a single exercise and within a reasonable time frame that will not exceed two hours.
Foreign Policy:
The Diaspora
In addition to serving the interests of all Zimbabweans living abroad, the MDC will seek to persuade those with skills and resources to return home to participate in the stabilization and reconstruction of Zimbabwean society.
Health sector:
Human Resources
To staff health facilities adequately a new approach to human resource development will be required. The key elements of such a human resources policy will be:
• Encouraging SRNs, doctors and pharmacists to return to Zimbabwe with the waiving of registration fees, recognition of experience, and assistance with relocation.
• Encouraging specialist doctors to return with the same incentives, making them eligible for unpaid leave to undertake short-term specialist work in other countries.
