adminSpeaking at a round table discussion for the delegation and the business community at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo, business sector representatives expressed concern over the neglecting of the region due to centralised decision-making.
They said there was a need for research and identification of economic activities that would give competitive advantage to the region.
The representatives appealed to the EU to assist Matabeleland region establish partnerships with their counterparts both regionally and internationally.
They urged political leaders to emulate the bloc, saying it was important for countries in the same region to work together for competitive advantages.
Mr Eddie Cross, the Bulawayo South Member of Parliament who presented a paper representing the business sector on the position of Bulawayo and Matabeleland, had identified what he termed pillars of economic activity in the area and the potential the once
industrial hub of the country has.
He identified the National Railways of Zimbabwe, Cold Storage Company, mining, clothing and textiles and furniture, import substitution industries, tourism and hunting safaris as key drivers of the economic activity in Matabeleland.
There was also mention of the threats the region was facing like inadequate financial resources for capitalisation and competition from other regions, which some of the participants said should be viewed as opportunities for development.
Participants said it was important to channel resources and efforts towards the activities that would help develop the region.
“It is time we start identifying areas that give competitive advantage and build around them so that we move forward as a region. For CSC we need resources on the supply side and the problem is that the national budget always pays little attention to ranching and tourism which are our key sectors,” said a participant.
Another participant raised concern about the need for decentralising decision-making, saying Bulawayo was lagging behind because tenders and loans among other things were done in Harare and suggested that the EU assist facilitate relocation of head offices of some departments including non-governmental organisations like the EU to Bulawayo.
Representatives said it was pointless to focus on reviving the clothing and textile sector because China had become the world’s leading textile producer and could not be matched.
Participants concurred on the prioritisation of cattle ranching, modernising the Beitbridge Border Post and tourism in Matabeleland.
“Beitbridge Border Post is the busiest and central to Southern Africa but Bulawayo is not benefiting from it despite it being in Matabeleland. As private sector, let us take it as a challenge to push for its modernisation so that it contributes to growth of our region,” said another participant.
The business sector also called on the European bloc to convince locals in the diaspora to return home and contribute to the development of the country, saying skilled locals who left for greener pastures abroad were in supervisory positions in most sectors abroad.
The issue of exchange rate also came up with participants calling for a policy to direct usage of currencies.
Ambassador Ariccia said there was a need for dynamism in Sadc to allow countries in the region to assist each other like the EU.
He commended the quality of beef products from Zimbabwe but said that could be complemented by regional intervention.
“The dynamics of the role of Matabeleland in national economy or the business sector depends on market opportunities and this meeting seeks to get a feedback on what we are doing and how we could move forward. There is a need for improved dialogue for you to develop,” said Ambassador Ariccia.
The EU head of Economic Cooperation and Food Security, Mr Dominic Davoux, said it was important to realise the need to move from aid for development to partnerships for development and urged the business sector to take a leading role and push towards regional economic interventions.
“There is a need for synergy. Regional intervention is important for competitive advantages in the region for example in beef production so that we do not compete against each other but assist each other,” he said.
The deputy director for investment promotion in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Mr Nohlupheko Phiri, said the Government had identified major projects in Matabeleland like dualisation of three major roads in Matabeleland South, rehabilitation of dams and water sources and the Hwange Power Station in the three-year Medium Term Plan.
In the morning, Ambassador Ariccia held meetings in Gwanda while other delegates visited Inyathi District Hospital in Bubi district, NatPharm and the National Blood Services Zimbabwe at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
The EU reiterated its commitment to health in the country and promised to avail four million euros through the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) transition fund on health to revive the sector.
The head of health and social sectors in the EU, Mr Jorge Pereiro Pinon, led the tour.
“EU has already launched a health service fund that will see patients easily assessing blood, free essential medicines and sponsor mid-wifery lessons for nurses.
“This fund is aimed at helping revive the country’s health sector which used to be one of the best but has deteriorated over the past years,” said Mr Pinon.
He said the health sector was affected by the brain drain in the past few years.
The EU delegation is on a four-day visit to Bulawayo and would today visit food security projects.
Online Reporter