adminUdine Products managing director Mr Crispen Mugova told Business Chronicle that of late people were buying construction material whose quality was not guaranteed from backyard stores.
He said consumers also preferred imported products because they perceive that locally manufactured products were of low quality compared to goods from foreign industries.
In essence, he said the products were of the same quality.
“Apart from their perceptions, consumers are also faced with cash challenges to buy local products and this is also contributing to failure to revive the local industries,” he said.
He said in cases where consumers have the money they should be encouraged to buy local products.
Last year, the country launched an initiative called Buy Zimbabwe Campaign to promote local consumption of products and services manufactured in the country.
Mr Mugova said the local industry needs to ensure that consumers were given a fair and better deal by ensuring that locally produced goods maintain conformity to quality standards.
He added that Government should come up with sector specific policies to eliminate cheap imported products on the market.
“We have to level the playing field so we have to urgently design and implement sector policies so as to eliminate dumping of these imported goods and set import tariffs that protect the local industry,” said Mr Mugova.
He said people always felt that local products are slightly expensive but this does not compromise the quality of the product.
“The cost of production in the country at the moment is generally high and that is why consumers feel local products are expensive but that does not compromise the quality of the product,” he said.
Mr Mugova bemoaned a situation whereby the construction industry was failing to recover yet it still had the capacity to contribute towards national economic growth.
He said there was room for other industries such as mining to stimulate growth by purchasing locally.
“We have to invest in the future and as such there is still room for other industries to stimulate growth by purchasing local products. We do not have to let local products face stiff competition from cheap imported goods,” he said.
Online Reporter