adminVandudzai Zirebwa Buy Zimbabwe
The Buy Zimbabwe Awards that were held last week seem to have hit the right chord with our local industry and commerce.
At a time sentiment has been low on the economic prospects of our country and most local manufacturers on the verge of giving up on their ability to stand their own against foreign competitors, we see new found energies by an industry which believes with right support it can emerge victorious.
In his address at the awards ceremony, Confederation if Zimbabwe Industries president and managing director of Schweppes Zimbabwe Mr Charles Msipa was correct in reminding the local business community that inasmuch as present challenges are real and painful, it was important to remember that only a few years back Zimbabwe had gone through worse.
He noted at least with today’s problems, Zimbabwe can celebrate the achievements of entities such as Cairns Zimbabwe who won the Great Come Back Award.
At the height of hyperinflation period, once a company went into problems, that was it. The focus now should be to forge a strong and common vision to support the local industry, outline priorities required in achieving such a path, eliminate unnecessary bickering and focus on regaining market share.
It was also interesting that even Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, who emerged with the Buy Zimbabwe Personality Award, confessed to having been among a group persuaded to the industrial age concept that says Produce Zimbabwe before you can buy it. That is until he realised that unless we keep our ears and eyes on the market, we will lose as a country. All goods and services that are produced are created for markets.
Innovation and competitiveness as key tools that drive modern economies are inherently features that define the extent to which businesses seek to influence and even re-engineer markets. As the minister pointed out, the lack of an early consensus on the need to unite around Buy Zimbabwe has cost the country a chance to stop the tide of imports which have now gone up to very high levels whose deficit is above US$3,7 billion.
However, all that is now water under the bridge. The Government, business, labour and previously reluctant retailers have now come fully on board to accept the principle, commit to the need to support the initiative and collectively work out ways to protect local industry without compromising on our competitiveness.
Within Government, there is also an acceptance that as one of the largest buyers of goods and services it is necessary to begin to monitor where public finances are channelled to and demand that the majority of such funds be used to procure locally.
The onus is now on local companies to be ready to provide such goods as well as work with institutions such as Buy Zimbabwe in ensuring that they identify bottlenecks that inhibit their market entry. All this is most welcome and events on the ground suggest that even some giant companies that were shunning local makers of freezers have had a change of heart.
A few weeks back one company that had been reduced to playing second fiddle against South African manufacturers was favoured with a big order with a promise for more to come as long as the product remained well priced, delivered on time and backed up by efficient service.
Industry hopes that this gradual shift towards a pro local sentiment and practice will be complemented by equal attention to some of the enabling infrastructure issues such as electricity and water that are inhibiting efficient service delivery.
The wage structures in the country which have been making news lately especially in the public sector may need some revision. Chances are that the skewed wage structures are not only demoralising to workers but are a main driver of uncompetitiveness within our utilities and parastatals. All this increases the cost of doing business. A requirement for transparency in these salaries would assist in the growth of our economy.
On a separate note, the wait is finally over and the Budget is out.
As Zimbabweans we have spoken enough, the Budget is out and issues are too clear. The time to put our hands behind the wheel is now. Implementation and a positive frame of mind should be local buzzwords.
Till we meet again, email [email protected]
Online Reporter