admin
Business Reporter
TINASHE Mutarisi, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC)’s newly appointed Harare chapter chairman, says local industry has a role to play in the national efforts to achieve the National Development Strategy (NDS1) targets and hopes to play a part through his new role.
Mr Mutarisi, who is also Nash Holdings founder and executive chairman, implored local businesses to give their all towards a viable economy that ensures excellence and productivity.
“The National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) borders on key economic pillars namely agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, tourism and manufacturing.
“Our resolve as ZNCC Harare Chapter is informed by the realisation that we require bold and results-oriented steps to entrench our drive towards Vision 2030.
“Our focus in this regard is on enhanced manufacturing and distribution of products that aid sustainable economic growth in Zimbabwe. We will do all it takes to become a good example of excellence,” he said.
Mr Mutarisi said the current economic dynamics call for an industry that is innovative and fully committed to its dreams.
“We can’t afford to apply a wait-and-watch approach if we are to achieve meaningful transformation.
“The hope is that we have the right drive across all the pillars of the economy including mining where the goal is to achieve a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.
“We must deliberately intensify our efforts to generate growth through intentional mobilisation of domestic growth vectors and leaving noone behind in the process.”
Mr Mutarisi said NDS1 must therefore attend to the development and capacitation of key national institutions, which will create an enabling environment critical for transformative economic growth.
“We are therefore geared to drive this narrative as ZNCC and we believe with unity of purpose we will achieve our goals,” he said.
He told this publication that as ZNCC Harare Chapter chairperson was both a challenge and a responsibility to him.
“Being part of the all-important Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) is both a responsibility and a challenge for me. Industry and commerce is the soul of the nation and being an indigenous entrepreneur I feel duty-bound to play my part in contributing to a viable economy that we can all be proud of.
“My goal is to bring renewed urgency to how we do business as a country.
“My new gospel is productivity, productivity and more productivity in all we do. All this must be aided by a culture of excellence. Every progressive Zimbabwean must aspire to do more and achieve more irrespective of their sector. We can not afford to be average if we want to take this country forward,” he said.
The businessman said all sectors of the economy must pull in one direction to achieve success.
“All sectors of the economy need to be rallied and as chairman of the ZNCC Harare Chapter, I believe we can pilot so much good for the entire chapter nation.
“We will consult widely and gather as much intelligence on how best we can add value to our industry.”
Mr Mutarisi is largely inspired by his humble beginnings and he said he hoped to inspire positive change through his new position.
“Being a person who started from the bottom I know some of the challenges that limit the progress of entrepreneurs particularly the small to medium enterprises.
“I will use that experience to get to the bottom of these issues and work with key stakeholders to unlock as much value as possible for local businesses through mentoring, experience sharing, capacity development as well as structured capitalisation.
“All the good we aspire for will require ample support from government and other development stakeholders in terms of policy and I believe industry will guide us on what the government needs to create an even more enabling environment for business growth and viability.
“From Zambezi to Limpopo, we want the gospel to be the same. That of embodying excellence and productivity in all we do,” he said.
Mr Mutarisi reiterated Zimbabweans’ drive in contributing to government’s leaving noone behind mantra.
“The Government as informed by NDS1 speaks of leaving no one behind and being a generally hard-working people, I believe we have the commitment and passion to carry this nation forward. We owe it to ourselves and to figure generations.
“I hope to stand for the rights of the marginalised youths as we engage key stakeholders and government to unlock more opportunities for young people,” he said.
Online Reporter