The Sunday News
Dickson Mangena, Business Reporter
BULAWAYO must not only limit itself to the textile and leather sectors to revive its industry but should take advantage of the existing infrastructure to build on other businesses which will create employment and boost economic activity.
Bulawayo was identified as a Special Economic Zone on leather and textile although that is still to be operationalised.
In an interview, Macro Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, said the fact that Bulawayo was identified as a Special Economic Zone for the two sectors does not mean that those are the only industries that the private sector must focus on.
“The beef and leather focus is because Matabeleland has always been a cattle ranching area,” said Dr Mpofu.
“But we can always leverage on the setting up of a vibrant economy already supported by the industrial infrastructure in Bulawayo.”
Dr Mpofu said Government will not force investors to just focus on the two sectors. He said technology and technology transfer were key priorities in the setting up of SEZs.
“In the SEZs, we are looking for modern technology and we are going to gain a lot of technology transfer in these areas. They will be high tech areas,” said Dr Mpofu.
He said that proper structures were being set, paving way for the full implementation of SEZs after the enactment of the legislation two weeks ago.
“The Act was passed a few weeks ago and we are now working on the constitution of the board and committees. A few days ago we had meetings with people from the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to assist us to set up viable and effective economic zones,” Dr Mpofu said.
The NDRC is the economic planning body of China.
“SEZs are a good way of reviving the economy as there are incentives that will come in the form of tax incentives, labour incentives and investor incentives,” said Dr Mpofu.
“We already have companies that are lining up for the Special Economic Zones programme that are ready to invest and take advantage of the benefits that come with the programme as they will not be affected by the challenges that affect those that are not in the SEZs,” said Dr Mpofu.
