Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga-Senior Reporter
WOMEN Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa says the micro, small and medium enterprises sector remains central to the successful implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 and the attainment of Vision 2030, with Government intensifying efforts to support local industries through targeted procurement initiatives.
Speaking at the inaugural MSMEs Indaba in Harare yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said the sector contributes more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product and continues to play a critical role in driving economic growth, employment creation and industrial development.
“This sector, which is here today, is contributing over 60 percent of the gross domestic product,” she said.
“We are doing a great job and I just want to say the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, in his astute leadership, the President put everything in one ministry.
“And I want to say to the women out there, you are playing your role — you are the architects of the economic development of this country.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said women continue to dominate the sector, accounting for 56 percent of MSME ownership, while the cooperative movement has grown significantly to more than 10 800 registered entities with close to three million members involved in agriculture, housing, manufacturing, fisheries and financial services.
The Government’s commitment to strengthening local enterprises was further underscored by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, who announced that US$10 million has been set aside for the procurement of medicines manufactured by local pharmaceutical companies.
The facility, which will be administered through the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), is expected to boost local drug production while reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
Minister Ndlovu said the initiative followed a directive from President Mnangagwa to support local manufacturers and create sustainable markets for domestic industries.
“We source most of the raw materials in the manufacturing sector coming from the MSMEs; there is now a call for a ‘manufacturing-for-manufacturing,’ where raw materials in large corporates have to be manufactured mostly by micro, small-to-medium enterprises,” he said.
“Consumables and certain services, again in the main, are offered by MSMEs and we need to create these strong linkages. Before I came here this morning (yesterday), I convened a meeting because I was challenged yesterday in the committee.
“So, I had a committee that comprised Ministry of Health and Child Care, MCAZ, Natpharm and the manufacturers of pharmaceutical products because the President gave us US$10 million for NatPharm to procure drugs manufactured in Zimbabwe.”
Speaking after the event, Minister Ndlovu said the funding was availed after Government observed strong performance within the local pharmaceutical industry, supported by a sound regulatory framework.
“The President then availed the US$10 million for the procurement of locally manufactured drugs by NatPharm and Ministry of Health,” he said.
He added that stakeholders had been tasked with establishing a framework to guide the utilisation of the revolving fund and ensure its long-term sustainability.
