Online Reporter
Judith Phiri,Zimpapers Writer
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu, has called on Bulawayo businesses to create a self-sustaining economic ecosystem by championing home-grown products and services.
In a keynote address read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Investment Promotion, Export Development and Economic Empowerment Director, Ms Bridget Dzimwasha, at the Bulawayo Business Buy and Sell Exhibition on Friday, he said home-grown products and services resonate deeply with the core objectives of the Second Republic.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, home-grown products speak directly to our national aspiration to build a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030.
“There is no more fitting place to issue this call than here, in Bulawayo. This city, affectionately known as Kontuthu Ziyathunqa (smoke that bellows), was once the undisputed industrial heartland of our nation,” he said.
“It was a crucible of innovation, a hub of manufacturing and a testament to the skill and work ethic of our people. While we acknowledge the economic headwinds that have challenged this legacy, we are not here today to lament the past. We are here to reignite the furnaces.”
The Minister said it was critical to build upon that legacy and forge a new era of industrial dynamism, one that is smarter, more resilient and proudly Zimbabwean.
He said the journey of economic transformation was not a matter of chance; it was a matter of deliberate and strategic choices, while the national compass was Vision 2030 and the roadmap, the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 and 2.
“These are not abstract policy documents confined to Government offices. They are a living blueprint for every province, every city and every entrepreneur in our nation.
“The success of our national strategies hinges on the vibrancy of our provincial economies. Bulawayo’s industrial resurgence is not just a local imperative; it is a national strategic priority,” he added.
Minister Ndhlovu said a central pillar of the industrialisation agenda was the aggressive promotion of local content, as the nation has been heavily reliant on imports — a situation that drains foreign currency reserves, stifles local innovation and exports jobs that rightfully belong to Zimbabweans.
He said to reverse this trend, they have embarked on a determined path of import substitution and local value chain development.
“Recognising the need for a coordinated and decisive approach, my Ministry, in line with the directives of President Mnangagwa, spearheaded the launch of the Local Content Steering Committee for Manufacturing in November 2024. This committee is not another bureaucratic layer; it is a strategic task force with a clear and urgent mandate,” he said.
The Minister said the work of the committee was already bearing fruit, as they were seeing a renewed focus on the Made in Zimbabwe brand, with 80 percent shelf occupancy of locally manufactured goods.
He said the directive for Government institutions to source 60 percent from local manufacturers was a practical demonstration of commitment.
The two-day exhibition, which ended on Saturday, was hosted by the Youth Network Connect (YNC) at the City Hall Car Park, running under the motto “Buy Local, Support Local, Grow Bulawayo.”
