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THE Bulawayo Indigenous Business Association (Biba) says the forthcoming general elections present an opportunity for people in Bulawayo to elect candidates with competence to champion economic development in the city. Elections are set to be held on 31 July after a proclamation by President Mugabe .
Due to economic challenges facing the country, Bulawayo which was known as the country’s industrial hub has suffered massive closure of factories.
The Government showed its political will to restore economic activity in the city by setting up an inter-ministerial taskforce called Let Bulawayo Survive Campaign chaired by Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube.
The inter-ministerial committee also comprised ministries of Water Resources and Development, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, and Finance.
Biba vice president Mr Freddy Ndoro told Business Chronicle in an interview that although Government exhibited the political will to revive industries in Bulawayo, efforts to restore production had been scuttled by some politicians and individuals who lacked collective vision.
“The Let Bulawayo Survive initiative and other initiatives aimed at restoring industrialisation in the city have been scuttled by some Government ministers and individuals,” he said.
In 2011, Biba in partnership with the National University of Science and Technology through its Technopark Department attempted to set up a diamond cutting and polishing centre at the university.
Mr Ndoro said the initiative also failed to take off because of some individuals who lacked the industrial revolutionary spirit.
“The upcoming elections are very critical to Bulawayo and the country at large as they present a very fresh opportunity for people to elect candidates who are competent to represent Bulawayo in Cabinet in the next five years and deal with the challenges of the city,” he said.
He said it was important for people in Bulawayo to include economic reality as a determinant of candidates that would be elected in the city.
Mr Ndoro said the Let Bulawayo Survive initiative was not an event but a journey which was not yet over.
“There is an axiom which says, ‘bad things can happen when good people do nothing,’ so it is the time for good people to act.
“In the previous elections, you might be aware that a large proportion of people did not vote. As Biba we are appealing for people to vote for candidates with competence to champion economic development,” he said.
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derick.khumalo