Buy Zim calls for engagement with Govt

Latwell Nyangu

BUY Zimbabwe has urged stakeholders to continue engaging the Government to refine its policies to promote production and consumption of local products and services.

The announcement comes as the Government announced a raft of measures to address the macroeconomic instability and stabilise local currency volatility.

“Buy Zimbabwe members held a meeting and agreed on the need to continue engaging the Government to refine its policies to promote production and consumption of local products and services.

“While noting the new measures, businesses felt the need to level the playing field between local producers and foreign suppliers.

“For example, local sugar manufacturers are required to fortify their product yet unfortified sugar has been allowed to enter the local market,” said Buy Zimbabwe chairman, Munyaradzi Hwengwere.

He said Buy Zimbabwe also noted that, previously, when the Government has allowed duty free imports of certain products, there has been a general rise in the smuggling of the products not covered by the Open General Import Licence (OGIL).

Because of that, he said, there was a need to enhance monitoring of the country’s borders.

“In the meeting, the position of business was that they are not averse to competition but opening the country’s borders to imports must be accompanied by efforts directed at reducing cost and enhancing ease of doing business for local companies.

“In the main, Buy Zimbabwe members agreed on the need to increase engagement with local consumers to emphasise the quality of Zimbabwean products and the role of local production in promoting the industrialisation agenda.

“Buy Zimbabwe remains committed to the production, promotion and preference of local products and services to create and preserve jobs, wealth and pride.”