Online Reporter
Zimbabwe on Monday witnessed another confirmation of investors’ confidence in the country’s economic policies when President Mnangagwa officially opened the Ecobank Pan African Bank’s new head office in Borrowdale, Harare.
The Second Republic has declared that Zimbabwe is Open for Business and supported this declaration by creating an enabling environment.
President Mnangagwa said Ecobank Pan African Bank’s continued investment in the country reflected its confidence in the economic policies of the Second Republic.
He said Government on its part will continue removing barriers that impede investment and business growth.
Zimbabwe has over the years witnessed big investments in many sectors of the economy such as mining and manufacturing and this has been attributed to the conducive business operating environment that Government has pledged to continue improving.
In a move hailed by the business community, Government recently reviewed downwards licences permits, levies and other fees under its ease of doing business reforms.
To support this bold move, President Mnangagwa has directed Cabinet Ministers to ensure there is no unwarranted rigidity, inflated individualities and bureaucratic lethargy in the discharge of duty by civil servants and those working for State enterprises.
Government, he said, will not tolerate any conduct that frustrates progress such as sitting on documents.
The country is already enjoying the fruits of ease of doing business reforms as evidenced by the many new investments and expansion of businesses being witnessed across the country.
We want to once again commend Government for its efforts to continue improving the ease of doing business environment as we work to build a prosperous Zimbabwe.
Councils, as we have said in the past, should complement these Government efforts by constantly reviewing their by-laws to keep abreast with the changing business environment.
We want our cities and towns to continue attracting both local and foreign investors and this is only possible when the business operating environment is conducive.
Businesses should take advantage of the relaxed business operating environment and reduced cost of doing business to grow their businesses and create more jobs.
The obtaining environment, we have no doubt, will encourage more people to venture into business while also attracting foreign companies to invest in our cities and towns.
This means more revenue for councils whose mandate is to provide services to both the business community and residents.
Councils should therefore brace for this expected economic boom so that they are not found wanting in terms of service delivery.
