adminSpeaking during the Turnall Bulawayo plant familiarisation tour on Friday, he said there was no country that could foster meaningful economic development without active participation of the private sector.
“There is no country under the sun that can foster meaningful economic development without active participation of its private sector. Symbiotic relations between Government and the business sector are the lifeblood of economic progression, particularly so in our economy with over 70 percent unemployment,” he said.
He said it was gratifying to see the private sector complementing Government efforts in reviving the industrial sector in Bulawayo, adding that the significance of the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign on reviving industries in Bulawayo and the country at large had been noted.
The Buy Zimbabwe Campaign is a competitiveness driver that was launched sometime this year to work closely with the National Economic Consultative Forum, Standard Association of Zimbabwe, the Consumer
Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and the Government to promote the production and consumption of local goods and services locally and on the international market.
Minister Nkomo said the theme of the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign, which is “Save a Job” responds to a real challenge faced by Zimbabwe’s economy, that of saving the few available jobs and creating new ones.
“The pro-poor 2012 budget announced by the Minister of Finance (Tendai Biti) has, as one of its key fundamentals, the element of job creation. The technical capacity and numerical human resource challenge continues to afflict our companies. The more people are employed, the more the taxpayers and the faster the rate of economic growth,” he said, adding that even social stability was attained through an occupied populace.
He commended Turnall’s gesture of seeking to revive industry’s fortunes in Bulawayo.
“Turnall’s benevolence to the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign in seeking to revive the fortunes of industry in Bulawayo is noted, appreciated and will be supported all the way through,” he said.
Minister Nkomo however, said he had been informed that Turnall was faced with possible job cuts because of limited market for its products locally and internationally.
“This comes at a time when Government is seized with reviving industries in this city under the Let Bulawayo Survive campaign.
“I am a member of the Ministerial Taskforce that was set up by Cabinet to spearhead the campaign so we will fight for the survival of industries of this region,” he said.
He said as part of Government’s efforts to enhance productivity in industry, his ministry also levied water tariffs to strike equilibrium between water production cost recovery and end-users’ ability to pay.
“As part of efforts to support local industries, we have in the past given companies in the Lowveld a special tariff so as to ensure their continued operation, profitability and usage of the country’s abundant water resources,” he said
He called on the private and public sectors to make efforts to restore Bulawayo to its former glory days in line with the royal status enjoyed by the city.
“Surely, a city associated with royalty should be characterised by a thriving economy and job stability,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo bemoaned the relocation of companies from the city to other cities.
He said he was not sure why industries were moving away from Bulawayo since over the years the companies have managed to survive the challenges they allege to be the causes of their relocation.
“Bulawayo is the hub of industry due to its proximity to South Africa which is the biggest economy in Africa, rapid growth of infrastructure, abundance of minerals, among other things.
“The challenge that has been peddled is that of water shortage, which is true, but the city has always survived the challenge. The case of Delta, a heavy water user, which has demonstrated its loyalty to the city by not only persevering but expanding its operations, is testimony to our assertion,” he said, adding that the companies that relocated preferred to spend the much needed resources on relocation expenses and thus prompting one to think there were negative underlying motives for the move.
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