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in Harare yesterday.
He takes over from Dr Joseph Kanyekanye, who has been at the helm since 2010 when he took over from Mr Katsande.
As an experienced industrialist, Mr Katsande is expected to maintain the CZI’s hardline stance in lobbying for policies that will address the cocktail of problems affecting industry.
Although the local economy has been on a steady growth path since introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009, observers opine that there is still need for the relevant authorities to deal with its underlying and multi-layered challenges.
These challenges range from escalating utility charges, a liquidity squeeze, an inflexible labour market, high cost of labour and uncompetitive tax structures, among others.
Outgoing president Dr Kanyekanye contends that the fundamental problem with the Zimbabwean economy is that it has “serious structural defects in that there is no medium- to long-term funding”, and he has since called for novel strategies such as securitisation.
To this extent, the new CZI presidium is also expected to push the Government for the deployment of funds under facilities such as the Zimbabwe Economic and Trade
Revival Facility (ZETREF), Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund (DiMAF) and other negotiated lines of credit which are yet to bear fruit. Mr Katsande has been at the helm of the CZI before, having been elected to the post in 2008, which he held until 2010.
Prior to this, Mr Katsande was also CZI president when he was elected in 1998, a position he held until 2000.
Mr Katsande has been a director of several companies including Nestle Zimbabwe, Hunyani Holdings and diversified banking group FBC Holdings. He was also a board member for Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe, Olivine Industries, the Grain Marketing Board and the Cold Storage Company.
The CZI AGM yesterday also saw the re-appointment of Manica Boards and Doors managing director Mr Kurai Matsheza as one of the organisation’s vice presidents.
Schweppes managing director Mr Charles Msipa was appointed as the other vice president, taking over from Steelmakers group general manager Mr Alexander Johnson.
Online Reporter