Zim seeks to reverse brain drain
2006-10-09 08:11
Special Report
Foreign airlines have stopped using Zimbabwe's airspace because the country's meteorological service is incapable of supplying weather information they need, according to officials.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe has set up an intellectual desk tasked with reversing the brain drain affecting many sectors in the economy, say reports.
It was reported that the desk, under the ministry of higher and tertiary education, was expected to start operating early next month.
Education secretary Washington Mbizvo said: "We want to bring back the manpower into the country to offer expertise on a short-term basis in fields like medicine, mining, education, engineering and others.
"We are creating a website after we approached the United Nations Development Programme and the website would be explaining to Zimbabweans and other people outside that the country is kicking and alive?."
Mbizvo said an audit to determine how much the country had lost through brain drain was underway.
The desk would have representatives from the foreign affairs ministry, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Employers' Confederation of Zimbabwe and Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
Mbizvo said: "We are also looking for critical areas so that we negotiate for scholarships for people to go and get training in those areas.
"We have already sent people to Nigeria, China and Cuba. We have also recalled retired lecturers to come and lecture at universities on a yearly basis."
- SAPA