‘Make its first 100 days very fruitful’

Luthando Mapepa Herald Correspondent
CHIPINGE community has called on Government to expedite plans to revive industries in its 100 days plan and immediately start value addition of the numerous resources found in the district. Speaking in a ‘no holds barred’ meeting organised by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa at Chipinge Junior Primary school on Wednesday last week, many residents called for the immediate adoption of policies which revive the economy in strategic economic sectors.

An entrepreneur, Mr Innocent Simango, said they wanted to see the resuscitation of industry topping the list of Government’s priorities, accompanied by the promotion of value addition policies to benefit the surrounding communities even before the lapse of the first 100 days.

“In Chipinge, we have the potential to run a multi-million dollar industry if we pursue value addition programmes. Currently, we are sending a lot of value to other countries, which have industries. We are giving them the job to process our raw products into semi or finished products therefore they earn more than us. “Chipinge has a lot of agribusiness — there are macadamia estates, but we do not have the industry which processes the nuts.

“We end up giving business to other countries, which end up making brisk business from our products,” he said.

“Secondly, there are information barriers in all key drivers of the economy in areas like Chipinge. We need to be united and create associations, which will provide us with information on how to conduct viable businesses and boost our economic performance,” he said.

Another citizen, Mr Blessing Mamvosha, said Government should always uphold the rule of law to entice investors.

Mr Mamvosha said there was also need for companies to continue with their corporate social responsibility programme.

“There are big corporates and individuals who are not following the rule of law and this should be addressed immediately to create an easy environment for would-be investors.

“There are also some big corporates who are exploiting local communities and we are saying this should stop to restore the confidence of our people in them,” he said.

Speaking at the occasion, director in the Minister of State for Manicaland Province Affairs Mr Kennedy Magarisanwa, said it’s no longer business as usual as there are target to be met.

“We need to revive the economy of Manicaland in the first 100 days of this new dispensation; therefore the office of the Minister of State has invited a renowned independent technocrat who will assist us in building the province.

“He will help us to put the master plan together so that it yields fruits as we hit the ground sprinting,” he said.