Chronicle Editor
Business Reporter
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) is undergoing institutional transformation aimed at repositioning the organisation for the future and enhancing its contribution to national economic development.
The ongoing renewal is expected to make the largest industry lobby group a more effective partner to the Government and business in the pursuit of economic and development ambitions of the country, marketing and communications officer, Mr Conrad Choruma said in a Press release.
“This process sees CZI formally and institutionally catching up with the evolution that has been taking place in its membership, the economy and regional, continental, and global developments,” he said.
To buttress organisational renewal, the recent CZI annual general meeting ratified a reconfiguration of committees and forums, which should commence meetings later this month to set the agenda for 2023 for respective thematic areas.
These include activating value chains, especially the agri-business linkages focus, industrialisation (SME linkages, local content, standards, sub-sectors, research and innovation, and entrepreneurship development), macroeconomy, economic enablers (energy, water, infrastructure etc), regional and international trade, sustainable business development and marketing and communications.
Mr Choruma said several forums have also been ratified to start organising and commence activities. These are: SMEs and local business owners’ forum, international business exchange, economists round table and CZI past presidents’ forum.
“As part of this transformation journey, CZI is on a drive to draw lessons and experiences from other similar organisations on the continent and beyond,” he said.
During the first week of this month, CZI went on a dual mission to Germany on a learning and private sector co-operation on one hand and participated at the German Africa Trade and Investment Forum held in Frankfurt.
The organisation joined ZimTrade and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Dr Frederick Shava, who also attended the event.
Mr Choruma said its delegation utilised the forum to a wide spectrum of organisations from the private sector associations, Government, and other related institutions. “What was outstanding was the role of the private sector in driving growth and providing policy advice to the Government,” he said.
“CZI president Mr Kurai Matsheza noted such initiatives were beneficial to CZI as they equipped the organisations with new initiatives and ideas meant to help business uplift their operations.”
Other members of the CZI team in attendance were vice-president Victoria Jakazi and Sekai Kuvarika the chief executive officer.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter