Beneficiation will stop expensive imports: Nyoni

Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
MINISTER of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni says people in Matabeleland North province should take advantage of resources available in the area and encourage value addition so as to do away with expensive imports. She said this while addressing delegates who had gathered in Lupane for an SME expo yesterday.

“Lupane business owners should strive to grow small grains like millet and rapoko in this area and from this we can further add value by making maize meal, cereals and even stock feed. We can do this instead of relying on maize alone,” she said.

Cde Nyoni said if the SME’s manage to do this then the country can ban some food stuffs that are being imported at expensive prices. She said small grains in the region will bring in a lot of income as they can be easily beneficiated.

Cde Nyoni said her ministry was calling on the Food and Agriculture Organisation to assist locals on how to process cattle hides and sell leather to outside markets.
“With the aid of the Food and Agriculture Organisation locals can be assisted and taught how to rear and skin their cattle professionally so that they can sell the leather outside in line with Zim Asset which encourages beneficiation,” she said.

She took a swipe at people who were waiting for the re-opening of closed industries for them to be employed.
“Lazy people are waiting for industries to open and become employed. That is a wrong mindset. You have to start a small business and employ other people and generate your own income than to wait for industries to reopen,” she said.

Minister Nyoni said the aim of the expo was for SME’s to showcase and market their products so that the rest of the country knows what they have to offer. This, she said, will aid the people in getting business opportunities. Students from the province were encouraged to work hard and enrol at Lupane State University.

Mr Christopher Chuma, the Kusile Rural District Council chief executive officer said SME’s should not be looked down upon as they were creating wealth for the nation. He said locals should take advantage of the natural resources they have at their disposal. He said Lupane has the best in terms of hard wood in Africa and should make profits out of the wood.