admin
AS industry representatives nestled in swanky hotels rooms in the Midlands capital of Gweru and, for the umpteenth time, prepared to discuss some of the stubborn challenges affecting the economy, the irony could not be lost on many.
Just 63km away, Ziscosteel – an iconic industrial behemoth – lay rotting. Since Government and Indian firm Essar Africa Holdings entered a US$750 million deal on March 9, 2011 to revive the steel manufacturing giant, works have been progressing in slow motion.
In fact, there are fears the deal could be dead in the water.
Yet for years advocacy to revive Ziscosteel has been dominant in CZI’s resolution.
Naturally, some industrialists are fatigued by the constant recycling of the resolutions at CZI congresses, something they say is turning these meetings into mere talk shops.
Among resolutions that routinely crop up since 2012 but remain outstanding are the need to revive Ziscosteel as a stimulus for industry, addressing porous borders and improving efficiency at Beitbridge Border Post, review of labour laws and adoption of GMO technologies.
Mrs Theresa Mberikwazvo of Kwekwe Polytechnic said although the congress programme – which included tours of selected companies and an exhibition – was good, some substantive issues, particularly the reopening of Ziscosteel, were not adequately addressed.
“The fact that the congress was held here alone means a lot to us as it brings Midlands to the limelight. But one of the major issues affecting us in the region is the reopening of Ziscosteel (now New Zimsteel). I did not see the issue tabled adequately, especially when VP (Emmerson) Mnangagwa was here.
“We are not sure if Zisco will resume production again or not and we are concerned. We are not very confident the resolutions will be addressed this year, some of these have been there since 2012 and are still being talked about without action,” she said.
CZI’s annual congress is a key event on the business calendar as it helps shape the future of industry and recommends to Government how best to go forward.
There are also industrialists who believe that the engagements, especially between Government and industry, are quite fruitful.
They, however, emphasise the need to set time lines for implementation of adopted resolutions.
Zimbabwe Textile Manufacturers Association chairperson Mr Admire Masenda said implementation of agreed policies remained the missing link.
“The issues raised were pertinent; it is also good to see that even if industry has challenges, it has not collapsed completely.
“The critical thing that comes out of all of this is that resolutions are made, people talk about policy shift and all but implementation is what is missing. It is the big problem. The shortcomings are after congress …
“As captains of industry, we do not have to sit back, we should be meeting with Government saying this is what we have done,” he said.
CZI Midlands chamber president Mr Matthias Ruziwa indicated that this year’s congress was unique since it showed that both Government and industry were now “moving in the same direction”.
“Of course we have seen some resolutions unresolved, but this time it is different. Government has made a call to private sector to steer the country’s and SADC’s industrialisation strategy. The gap has been closed,” insisted Mr Ruziwa.
The private sector continues to call on Government to create an enabling environment for business growth.
There was consensus that the country might be primed for an economic turnaround if all the agreed policies were implemented.
It was generally agreed that Zimbabwe needed to urgently address cost of doing business, improve its rating on the ease of doing business rankings, deal with illegal sanctions and expedite labour law reforms.
Online Reporter