WATCH: Businesses revel in Independence gains

Judith Phiri, Business Reporter 

BULAWAYO businesses have said Zimbabwe’s independence has brought many positives for the locals, including the empowerment of black Zimbabweans who were eager to start businesses which was nearly impossible under white minority rule.

Zimbabweans on Thursday celebrate 44 years of independence. The country gained independence on April 18, 1980, following a fierce armed struggle.

Independence empowered black Zimbabweans to venture into any business in all the different sectors of the economy, most were able to start businesses from the ground using their savings as capital.

Since attaining independence, the Government has spearheaded many people-driven economic empowerment policies, which resulted in the emergence of prominent black businesspeople.

Today, many previously disenfranchised blacks have taken leadership positions and ownership of various companies. A quick scan of the company profiles of these companies will reveal a healthy and dominant representation of indigenous men and women at the entrepreneurial helm of post-independence Zimbabwe.

In an interview, business lobby group, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter chairman, Mr Bekezela Moyo who is also the CEO of Allied Security and Carrymine Complex, said independence opened doors for Zimbabweans to be able to control their destiny. 

“It is one of the best things that we witnessed as a country as Zimbabweans. Our fathers went through a lot during the struggle, for the country to be finally declared independent on the 18th of April in 1980, it was amazing,” he said. 

“It has opened doors for us to be able to control our destiny and be able to run our businesses. It offered us a lot of opportunities in terms of opening the space for education which we saw in the First Republic and luckily the Second Republic has gone further to provide more opportunities for us as a people.”

He said the Second Republic has also created a conducive environment for the growth of businesspeople in different sectors, in line with the mantra “Zimbabwe is open for business”.

Mr Moyo said businesses were basking in the glory of independence with most spreading their wings to other African countries as well as the rest of the globe. 

He added: “Black people were allowed to go into mining, to be manufacturers and to run giant companies, with most even exporting to other countries. Independence Day is a very special moment and we should all take it to heart and celebrate the special day.”

Mr Moyo said that this year’s celebration slated for Buhera District in Manicaland Province, offers an opportunity to look back at history and see how far Zimbabweans have come and the country. 

In terms of business in the city, he said the Second Republic has put a lot of focus on resuscitating industries in Bulawayo. 

“We have seen a lot of companies getting back into manufacturing, some of our members as ZNCC are into agriculture and they are doing the whole value chain from the start to the manufacturing itself this is all being done here in Bulawayo. Others are exporting various products and services into the region and the globe,” he said. 

In the mining sector, Mr Moyo said several investments have been made, while President Mnangagwa has had the privilege of commissioning signature mining projects in the areas of exploration, extraction and expansion since the advent of the Second Republic.

He said there was a need to jealously guard the natural resources to curb leakages. 

“As you know the new currency is backed by gold so we need to increase our production so that more gold goes to our vault and make sure that we can support a powerful ZiG currency,” he said.