‘Govt has no control over Buy Zim Campaign’

Speaking on the sidelines of a National Trade Policy 2012-2016 consultation workshop in Masvingo yesterday, Ministry of Industry and Commerce Research and Domestic Trade director Mr Norman Chakanetsa said the Government was positive about the whole idea behind the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign but it had no direct control over its operation.
Buy Zimbabwe is a competitiveness driver that works closely with many co-operating institutions and with Government to promote the production and consumption of local goods and services on the local and international market. The Buy Zimbabwe Campaign is designed to unlock the country’s full potential and inspire economic growth     and competitiveness of local  brands.

A 12-member delegation is moving around the country making consultations on the national trade policy, expected to be launched early next year.
Consultations have been conducted in Bulawayo and  the Midlands.
“Buy Zimbabwe Campaign is a very noble idea and we are fully behind all efforts to promote our local products. However,   let me hasten to say the whole programme is a private initiative that the Ministry has no     direct involvement,” said Mr Chakanetsa.

Regionally, there has been robust campaign on the use of domestic products by member states, especially in the Southern African region.
South Africa has also gone on a massive campaign for its locally produced goods under Buy South Africa Campaign initiative.
The director said while it was imperative to promote locally produced products there was sole need for manufacturers to adhere to certain standards when producing goods and services.

“The ministry supports all efforts to do with the use of local products but there is sole need to stick to certain standards as prescribed by the ministry.
“We also need to look at capacities of manufacturing companies     to sustain the local market. This also applies to the issue of    tariffs on imported goods,” he          said.
He said Government should also enforce some regulations regarding standards of locally produced goods so that the market     would get commodities of good quality.

“We are presently working on a standardisation Act, although at its infancy stage, which is termed Compulsory Standard Specific Act. Once enacted, the ministry will be empowered to enforce certain standards on specific products.
“However, we already have Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) but this is a voluntary entity that companies are not obliged to be part of.

“The organisation has its own preferred standards and it is up to the individual companies to be certified under SAZ and they also have the temerity to pull out and still sell goods that might have been condemned.”

Meanwhile, Mr Chakanetsa said the consultative process would add value to the national trade policy.
“This consultative process would add impetus to the whole policy and we are going to take on board the inputs solicited from all centres we would have visited,” he said.