Businesses should complement Government effort

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief

THE business community should complement Government efforts in creating an enabling investment climate that promotes increased production and enhanced international trade, a Cabinet minister has said.

Speaking during a recent business conference in Gweru, Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo, said collaboration between the Government and the private sector was critical in all sectors of the economy.

He urged the private sector to play their part in promoting an enabling doing business environment for the benefit of the entire economy.

“The business community should create an enabling environment that will promote international trade and investment resulting in economic growth. Business should complement Government efforts in reviving the economy in line with vision 2030,” said Minister Moyo who is also the Midlands Show Society patron.

He stated that the Government, through its devolution agenda has tasked the Midlands Minister of State for Devolution and Provincial Affairs, Larry Mavima, and various arms of Government to promote trade and investment within the province.

“President Mnangagwa is saying we must grow an economy that is private sector-led and we must give an enabling environment so that growth takes place,” Moyo said.

“The Government and the private sector should be able to analyse what an enabling environment entails so that they are able to create it so as to avoid bureaucracy and therefore attract investment.”

He said the Midlands Province has the most diversified natural resource base in the country that could be utilised to grow both provincial and national Gross Domestic Product.

The Midlands Province has a huge industrial base, arable agricultural land and mineral endowments that could be commercially exploited and beneficiated to grow the economy of the province and country as a whole.

Minister Moyo said Midlands also has a diversified financial services sector, which could be used to support production in all sectors.

“We are starting to build a Midlands economy that can be able to sustain itself and the whole country. We should see advantages in the Midlands, Zimbabwe and then globally,” he said.

“President Mnangagwa is pushing that all 10 provinces produce their provincial GDP for the benefit of locals and their institutions.”

Minister Moyo said the GDP for any producer or company should be accounted for where it is physically stationed and not accounted in Harare where it might be headquartered.

He challenged the Midlands Show Society to be inclusive by involving everyone irrespective of colour and race.

“Whether one is Chinese, white or black should be included. Let’s target everyone so that we create the Midlands that we all want,” he said.

A total of 140 exhibitors turned up for this year’s exhibition, which ran under the theme: “Focus, innovate and attain sustainable economic growth”.