Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
The Government has done a lot to review business licences to make it easier for businesses to do business in the city.
Speaking at the official launch of Karimapondo Mall today, Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Shingirayi Mushamba, said the Government will continue to work with the City of Harare in terms of parking, discipline and organising public transport.
“We know you are next to kombis; that brings you a market, but at the same time, the behaviour of kombis near you can deter people from coming here,” he said.
“So we need to organise them so that they actually become part of your value chain and not a menace to you and your customers.”
Dr Mushamba said his ministry’s responsibility is not simply to observe development but to ask what economic value and opportunities are being created within the Metropolitan Province and how these are contributing to Vision 2030 and beyond.
“When I look at Karimapondo through that lens, I see considerable significance,” Dr Mushamba.
“We now have a space where businesses trade, employees work, customers will come to spend, suppliers will earn revenue, and economic activity is taking place.
“It is precisely the type of investment that provincial structures should strive for, and we are encouraging retrofitting, looking at our buildings, repurposing them, converting them into modern facilities and building the
Harare that we want to achieve, signifying our thrust towards moving towards Vision 2030.”
Dr Mushamba said devolution ultimately brings development closer to communities.
“It is about creating conditions in which local economies can grow, and people can meaningfully participate in that growth,” he said.
“Karimapondo contributes to this by supporting small and medium enterprises, creating employment opportunities, attracting customers and making better use of existing urban infrastructure.”
Dr Mushamba said buildings can depreciate, equipment become obsolete, markets change, but capable, committed people can continually create new value.
“I believe those who are going to work here will be respected. It has required faith and extraordinary commitment,” he said.
“It has taken faith to look at an underperforming property and believe that it can be transformed into something better.
“It has taken commitment to invest capital in it, time as well as effort and has taken a bit of discipline in terms of execution and turning the vision into reality. We must learn from this experience and be inspired.”
