adminHopes were high that at long last, the problems of underdevelopment that the region had faced over the years were going to be tackled head-on and that they would soon be a thing of the past. There were high hopes too that industries that had shut down or relocated would be resuscitated or wooed back to the region.
But it is a few months since the purported release of money under the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) and there is nothing to show on the ground that indeed there is money to shore up distressed companies in Matabeleland.
A majority of industries in Bulawayo are yet to benefit from the fund due to stringent conditions. The big companies in the city are either still closed or on the verge of collapse and thousands of workers continue to lose jobs.
As a result, senior politicians from the region are not happy with the pace at which things are moving, and rightly so.
Senior Zanu-PF leaders from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South met at Elangeni Training Centre on Sunday where they called for urgent measures to bring the $40 million “stalemate” to finality.
They all believe that the fund has been politicised by those in charge of disbursing it and that it is high time President Mugabe intervenes and bring sanity to the facility.
We understand their frustrations, for every day that goes without this money benefiting industries in Bulawayo and the entire region means the problems of de-industrialisation that have been raised on numerous occasions will continue to haunt the region.
In our view, there is no reason why the Minister of Industry and Commerce Professor Welshman Ncube would rush to announce that Government would launch similar funds for the
Midlands and Manicaland before the issue of the fund for Bulawayo and Matabeleland is finalised.
We are well aware that industries in the Midlands and Manicaland are equally distressed, there is no doubt about that. But we thought the Government would first see to it that the fund is disbursed and to deserving companies that will make a difference in Bulawayo and the region first before announcing similar funds for other regions.
The first port of call would be to address the stringent conditions that the disbursing financial institution is demanding.
Second, Government, working hand-in-glove with organisations like the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, needs to identify strategic companies that, if given the resources, will make a huge impact in Bulawayo and the region in terms of employment creation and uplifting the business climate in the city and surrounding areas.
Once these are identified, then the money must be released and on condition that it would be channelled towards buying raw materials to revive the company, and nothing else.
Surely, we cannot afford to let companies in Bulawayo die. As we have said before, Bulawayo used to be the industrial hub of Zimbabwe and the earlier that status is restored, the better it will be for the entire country. Government ministers, on the other hand, must desist from political bickering and must pull in the same direction when it comes to issues of national interest and we believe the revival of industries in Bulawayo is one such issue.
Online Reporter