Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE Government is moving to strengthen Zimbabwe’s local content regime through a new digital rating system that will track how businesses support domestic production, jobs and local procurement as the country pushes to reduce imports and deepen industrial value chains.
The system is being developed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through the Local Content Steering Committee and is expected to provide a mechanism for assessing and tracking business compliance, including the extent to which companies buy locally and create jobs.
The initiative comes as the Government intensifies efforts to promote value addition, import substitution and the Buy Local campaign, with local content production identified as a key pillar in building a self-reliant industrial base towards Vision 2030.
On Monday, Minister Ndlovu met the Local Content Steering Committee, chaired by Professor Gift Mugano and comprising academics, industrialists and representatives from key Government institutions.
The committee provides a platform for Government and the private sector to assess progress in implementing local content measures and identify areas requiring intervention.
In an update, the ministry said Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said there was a need to strengthen local production given that Zimbabwe continued to import products that could be manufactured domestically.
“Local Content production is critical for Zimbabwe because in some sectors, the nation is currently importing what it can produce.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as part of its core-mandate, is working with the industry and private sector to improve the local content framework and production towards Vision 2030.”
The regular meetings are held to provide a platform for the Local Content Steering Committee to update the Ministry on all matters to do with Local Content Production.
Key issues on the agenda involve reviewing progress on Assessing sector performance and compliance, Strengthening and aligning collaboration between Government and private sector, Promoting value addition, import substitution and the Buy Local Campaign, Enhancing overall competitiveness across all sectors.”
The digital rating system is expected to give Government greater visibility on the extent to which businesses are contributing to domestic value chains, particularly through local purchases and employment creation.
The ministry said the system would track business compliance on key indicators.
“The subsequent increase in Local Content Production will increase value addition and beneficiation, create jobs and build a self-reliant industrial base for Zimbabwe as the nation marches-on towards Vision 2030.
“So far, the Ministry has established a catalogue named ‘Made in Zimbabwe’. This catalogue guides all stakeholders with information that helps one to source and procure locally.
“The Ministry through the Steering Committee is also developing a Digital Local Content Rating System to rate and track business compliance on jobs created, import vs local purchases amongst others.”
The “Made in Zimbabwe” catalogue is intended to make it easier for companies and other stakeholders to identify locally produced goods and services when making procurement decisions.
The push for stronger local content is also expected to improve linkages between large businesses and domestic suppliers, creating opportunities for local manufacturers to increase production and expand their market base.
