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Business Editor
BUSINESSES in Zimbabwe should take advantage of President Robert Mugabe’s position as chairman of both the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to engage investors and seal regional partnerships for the benefit of the economy, an expert has said. Zwelibanzi Ndlovu, a business transformation strategist and founder of Stop to Start International, a Bulawayo- based consultancy firm, said the President’s regional position was a big economic opportunity for the country.
Negative views about the President’s foreign trips, he said, are an indication of a narrow mindset that sees a problem when others see an opportunity.
“This (President’s positions) is a grand opportunity for Zimbabwe that we’ll miss. Instead of being busy complaining about the President’s trips or his age, as businesses we should be itching to accompany him and use these trips to our advantage,” Ndlovu said.
“In terms of mindsets a lot of Zimbabweans don’t see this as an opportunity. Some people don’t understand the value of the President as the head of the AU and Sadc. For example, as the head of Sadc it means all our ministers are heads of Sadc council of ministers for their portfolios.”
His sentiments follow a barrage of negative views by individuals from the opposition parties and the private media about the President’s foreign trips.
Zimbabwe assumed chair of the Sadc in August last year and took over the AU leadership early this year.
Ndlovu, who seems to have taken advantage of a couple of such meetings and shared his experiences with businesses during a discussion in Bulawayo last week, said Zimbabweans should cultivate positive attitudes about their achievements.
“I’ve attended some these meetings and benefited a lot. Theoretically, whether a meeting is held in Botswana, South Africa or anywhere, businesses can sponsor themselves to accompany our ministers to such forums.
“Since Zimbabwe is strategically positioned in Sadc, such travel is affordable by any means of transport and that’s a grand opportunity we can’t afford to miss,” he said.
Ndlovu said such forums would afford serious business executives an easy opportunity to meet delegates from other countries, share notes and negotiate partnership agreements at a higher level.
“Business linkages and partnerships are easy to strike when we’ve an upper hand in coordinating such regional forums. With our President and ministers leading, we can easily get anything we want as businesses. Essentially we convene Sadc right now but ignorance is our greatest problem,” he added.
During the same meeting in Bulawayo, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister, Simon Khaya Moyo pledged to include representatives from business community during his trips and engagements with investors.
Zimbabwe requires vibrant private sector involvement and substantial foreign direct investment to turn around the economy.
Under the government’s Zim-Asset blue-print, about $27 billion is needed to finance economic projects with the private sector and development partners expected to inject 80 percent of the amount.
Online Reporter