V. Goodwill mission to Zimbabwe 43. Following an exchange of communications with the Government to determine a convenient date, Mr Kari Tapiola, Executive Director for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and Ms Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the International Labour Standards Department, undertook a preliminary mission to the country on 19–22 May 2009. 44. The Commission of Inquiry undertook a goodwill mission to Zimbabwe on 20–22 May 2009. During this time, the Commission of Inquiry met the Minister and Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Services; the Minister and Deputy Minister of Public Service; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Co-Ministers of Home Affairs; the Members of the Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration; the President and Secretary General of the ZCTU; and the Vice-Presidents and Executive Director of the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe. 45. The Commission explained that it had come to Zimbabwe on a goodwill mission to familiarize itself with the situation in the country following the establishment of the inclusive Government. The Commission, while working in the judicial spirit that characterizes ILO Commissions of Inquiry, at the same time was desirous of contributing to the process of reconciliation and healing in Zimbabwe on the basis of African and international standards on labour relations and human rights. The Commission asked the people whom it met to specify any areas in which the Commission or the ILO could provide support. 46. The Commission received assurances of cooperation and support from those whom it met during the goodwill mission, and the dates of 12–25 August were agreed for the Commission’s future fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. 47. The ILO agreed to provide technical assistance to the Government to assist in the achievement of certain of the targets set in its “100-day plan” covering the period 29 April–6 August 2009, entitled “Getting Zimbabwe working again”. Accordingly, the ILO provided technical assistance to Zimbabwe to support the first steps in: (1) the revision of the country’s social dialogue institution; (2) the harmonization of the public service and labour laws so as to ensure freedom of association rights to civil servants; and (3) through discussion of a draft employment policy, ratification of ILO Convention No. 122 on employment policy. In July 2009, tripartite workshops were held on each of these topics, a high-level tripartite delegation carried out a study visit to the social dialogue institution in South Africa, and discussion papers were prepared on best practices for social dialogue institutions and on freedom of association rights for public servants. Meetings-2009-Zimbabwe C of I-2009-12-0035-3-En.doc/v3 23