The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
Companies should evenly spread their activities to all provinces and districts according to local endowments so as to develop every part of the country and improve livelihoods, an official has said.
Speaking at the close of the 2021 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) annual congress in Victoria Falls on Friday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said Zimbabwe should learn from other nations. Dr Mangwiro was standing in for Vice President Costantino Chiwenga, as guest of honour for the three-day congress.
VP Chiwenga did not attend because of other national commitments and his speech was read by Dr Mangwiro.
After reading the guest’s speech, Dr Mangwiro took time to coach captains of industry to play a part in ensuring every part of the country has a local industry that is supported by its local endowments.
For example, he said Victoria Falls as a tourism destination, should be having booming manufacturing industry for tourism inputs and accessories such as boats, foodstuffs and furniture. This is in line with implementation of the devolution and decentralisation policies.
“In other countries people deliberately distribute industry to provinces and outlying areas. Matabeleland North, particularly Victoria Falls is a tourism area but boats are made in Harare.
“As industrialists, distribute industry across the country and see how you will grow the economy,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He said it was encouraging for the future of the economy to find that a majority of captains of industry are youthful executives.
He said industry has capacity to drive the economy.
This comes as the Second Republic has reiterated the importance of private-public-partnerships in its approach to development and revival of the country’s economy in its economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which provide roadmap for attaining our aspiration for Vision 2030.
Dr Mangwiro said the contribution of rural areas should not be overlooked.
“It’s you as industry who can make those decisions but let’s not forget rural areas because the biggest population is in the rural areas.
“Let’s also seek partnerships with tertiary institutions and also target the outside market,” he said.
Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the province was ready to play its part in the economic recovery path through tourism, mining and energy.
He said Matabeleland North is open for business.
“I am sure you will take this opportunity to explore and tap into the investment opportunities in Matabeleland North. The opening of the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange heralds our entrance into financial services as we seek to diversify our regional economy in line with the Devolution Agenda,” he said.
Former Industry and Commerce Minister Bimha who also attended the annual congress challenged captains of industry to promote local products in line with the Buy Zimbabwe campaign.
He called for change of work ethic saying the Second Republic is pro-people and development and wants to work with people with a vision to uplift ordinary citizens.
“Let’s industrialise but let’s not continue to be leaders in formulation but be leaders in implementation.
“Let’s change the mentality that things coming from elsewhere are better than local goods, we should believe in ourselves and local products,” he said.
The congress was held under the theme: “Managing disruptive change.” – @ncubeleon
