Bulawayo business leaders appeal for localised policy solutions

Sikhulekelani Moyo and Nokuthaba Ncube, Business Writers
THE Bulawayo business community has appealed for Government intervention in addressing localised challenges that negatively affect company operations and frustrate the city’s economic growth.

Among the top issues of concern are the need to establish a retooling fund, capacitation of manufacturing industries, relaxing the cost of doing business and water and energy supply gaps, among others, which affect business competitiveness.

These were tabled during an inclusive business engagement meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which was organised by the Bulawayo Business Forum in conjunction with the Bulawayo City Council on Thursday evening.

During discussions, participants expressed concern over the relocation of industries from Bulawayo to Harare and other cities saying this was a signal that businesses and potential investors have concerns with Bulawayo.

One of the business forum members, Mr Bekithemba Nkomo, said as businesses they were eager to work closely with the Government in addressing issues that affect business.

He said developing a Bulawayo-specific policy would help the city to deal with its own challenges, which might be different from other cities.

“If the Government agrees that Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s industrial hub, we have to come up with a specific policy that speaks to that, to say how best can we rebuild that hub,” said Mr Nkomo.

“Let’s have a specific industrial policy that comes from the Ministry of Industry such that business feeds in that policy. And another thing is that businesses need funding, we need funding, which is workable with the situation we are in now.”

In his response, Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister, Cde Raj Modi said the issue of funding remains a challenge across the board.

He also said financial institutions were struggling to provide long-term funding for industries, which in itself is a limiting factor.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, who also attended the meeting said the Government was in the process of coming up with a “Reconstruction Policy” plan covering 2024 and 2025.

He said the plan, which is meant to close the gaps raised, now awaits Cabinet approval.

“The whole plan is around National Development Strategy One and Two and we call upon businesses to table their contributions to these policies and development tragedies,” said Dr Utete Wushe.

“Policies don’t come from the Government but from your businesses going up to the Government for approval.”

He also called upon Bulawayo businesses to organise themselves into business membership organisations and contribute towards sound policy formulation and reconstruction. Dr Wushe said the ministry does not have funding, but they will engage relevant ministries.

CZI Matabeleland Chapter president, Mr Stephen Ncube, said they were aware of the Zimbabwe Industrialisation Policy and requested that the policy be looked into with all stakeholders involved so that there is a consultative process to approach the implementation of the policy.

“The key issue is funding. The latest Zida report shows that Bulawayo as a province is lagging in terms of investment, it should worry the Ministry of Industry and Commerce,” he said.

“We have got the infrastructure to revive the industry, but we are lagging in terms of investment. We are appealing to the ministry to avail funding for us to survive.”

The business community also expressed concern over the unfair competition imposed by imported products where they suggested that the ministry should come up with a strong policy to protect local industries.