All set for ZNCC Awards

Business Correspondent
AS preparations for the 2015 Zimbabwe National Chamber Of Commerce Manicaland awards gather momentum, provincial chairperson, Mr Obert Muzawazi, said the awards are in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation blueprint.

The provincial awards are slated for next Friday in Mutare at the Golden Peacock Hotel.

Running under the theme: “Promoting Zim-Asset through job creation and innovative business ideas,” Mr Muzawazi said the awards were aimed at encouraging professionalism and the formalisation of Small to Medium Enterprises.

“We are aware that we are in a new era where the informal sector has become the economic driver in Zimbabwe.

“The role of these awards is not only to incentivise those doing well in business, but to also encourage professionalism and the formalisation of local businesses so that they make meaningful contributions to the fiscus,” said Mr Muzawazi.

He also called on Government to tighten the free for all trade system saying it was discouraging for the SME’s players to formally operate their businesses.

“We need to control imports coming into the country, especially those which can be produced locally by our companies which are creating employment for our people.

“We also have to rein in willy-nilly illegal vending to ensure order and also to protect those who are in business,” said Mr Muzawazi.

Mr Muzawazi’s sentiments come at a time when the smuggling of goods through the country’s porous borders and other illegal entry points has become a contentious issue in business.

Although Government has put in place policy measures to protect local industries by banning the import of selected goods manufactured locally, porous border posts and other illegal entry points are derailing strides to contain the issue.

The smuggled goods are sold at uncompetitive prices running local players out of business.

Mr Muzawazi added that there was need for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to come up with ways of a tax reprieve for SME’s that want to formalise as well as start-up enterprises.

“Most SME’s are hiding from Zimra because of tax issues. If they are given a tax amnesty it will encourage many to come out of hiding and formalise their operations,” he said.