Minister bemoans influx of imported goods

meeting was held to come up with strategies to increase the visibility of locally manufactured products on the Zimbabwean market.
The minister said despite quality goods being produced in Zimbabwe, these were being overshadowed by imported goods in the retail and wholesale shops.
“Our economy has become a supermarket for other countries who are championing value addition.
“Fuel, food, machinery, chemicals, manufactured goods, transport, equipment and passenger cars account for the larger share of imports in 2011 and 2012,” she said.
Minister Nyoni said there was an urgent need for the country to focus on boosting the manufacturing sector.
“Finished consumer goods continue to account for a disproportionate share of our imports, implying the need to have investment in domestic manufacturing and value addition.”
Figures show that SMEs contribution to economic activities in the country was above 60 percent but the bulk of the economic activities are in the primary industry where trade of imported goods is dominating.
The quantitative research shows that the SMEs sector contributes more than 50 percent of total employment and 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product but its products are not visible on the market.
The Harare Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises chairman Mr Mapfungautsi said that SMEs were failing to access strategic market areas such as the Central Business District.
“The exorbitant rentals have driven us out of wholesale and retail shops and we are now producing and selling our goods in backyards and on the streets leaving room for imported goods to flood our markets.
“A clear Government policy is necessary otherwise our brothers from Nigeria, China and the DRC will continue to have their lion’s share in the city wholesale and retail shops. We appeal for immediate intervention otherwise our dream of making our products visible on the market remain a pipe dream,” he said.