The Sunday News
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Business Economic and Empowerment Forum (BEEF) has commended the ruling Zanu-PF for the re-launch of the revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy that is meant to promote the growth of local private sector.
The policy was approved by the joint sitting of the party’s Central Committee and Politburo last year and has now been re-launched in Bulawayo and Midlands provinces among others by the Zanu-PF Department of Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment. BEEF president Dr Solomon Matsa said the ruling party was developing policies which promote economic growth and formalisation within the indigenous private business sector.
“It gives me great pride to have shared our platform recently with the Government to launch the Zanu-PF revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy. We commend the party and Government on this great step towards developing policies which promote economic growth and formalisation within the indigenous private business sector.
“These are exciting times for business in Zimbabwe as the indigenous business private sector welcome this re-launch in tandem with the ongoing implementation of the devolution and decentralisation,” he said.
Dr Matsa said the re-launch of the policy coupled with the objective for devolving power to sub-national structures will enable faster, efficient and effective responses to challenges of the delivery of public services.
In addition, he said, the development, democracy, as well as the imperative issue of sustaining national unity and peace will be achieved.
“We are indeed on the road to a more prosperous Zimbabwe as this will surely impact business positively across our nation. Our organisation is positioned to play a critical role in the creation and transfer of wealth from a private sector perspective,” he said.
Dr Matsa said his organisation will play an active role in lobbying the private sector to work with Government to obtain solutions that will achieve full participation and inclusion of Zimbabwean enterprises, particularly in policy formulation, formalisation, procurement, licensing and concessions, public-private partnerships, employment equity and community trusts.
He said as the Indigenisation and Economic Policy is rolled out along with the devolution and decentralisation policy already effected it is expected a series of legislative amendments and new laws aimed at resolving conflicting constitutional or legislative amendments will arise.
“We will provide organisational and coordination support required to reach businesses. This interaction enables BEEF to effectively communicate with the Government on how to be more impactful in the allocation of strategic investments, build accurate forecasts and improve implementation of formalisation, and value addition programmes in various sectors,” said Dr Matsa.
He said the organisation will be actively partnering and working with the Government to develop strategies that will empower and capacitate Zimbabwean people to manage, own or expand local enterprises, particularly in the areas of financial capacitation of local enterprises, especially small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
“We will continue our advocacy for private and public sector foreign investment initiatives that benefit and empower local Zimbabwean enterprises.
“Our commitment and efforts to promote and advocate for marginalised groups, women, youth, people with disabilities remain a big part of our agenda as these groups continue to require great assistance in the areas of access to capital, land, resources, training and mechanisation,” he said.
