Online Reporter
A delegation from South Africa is in the country to discuss possible areas of investment and cooperation and is scheduled to meet Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.
The Association of the African Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM) chief executive officer, Mr David Coffey, is leading the delegation.
AAAM and the Motor Industry Association of Zimbabwe (MIAZ) representatives have since met Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe.
As part of the discussions, the parties addressed
possible areas of collaboration
the need to shape policies
the need to provide support for the expansion and deepening of the automotive industry in Zimbabwe and Africa
the SA delegation will conduct a needs assessment and explore investment opportunities within the local automotive industry.
The purpose of the visit aligns with the Government’s efforts to promote local production and drive economic growth through enhanced investments in the automotive sector.
The SA delegation is also set to visit some companies, including Chloride and AVM, among others.
Our Reporter Blessings Chidhakwa is providing live coverage of the story.
‘Africa a dumping ground for at least 3 million vehicles’
The SA delegation has said vehicles should be manufactured on the African continent to avoid the need for massive imports.
Speaking during a meeting with Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, AAAM chief executive officer Mr David Coffey said their mission is to grow the sector across the continent.
“We are here for the next few days, visiting various stakeholders to understand what opportunities exist, especially considering the AFCFTA,” he said.
“Today, Africa is a dumping ground of 3 million to 5 million vehicles, and we want to change that. We want to industrialise.”
‘Zim spent US$1, 6bn on second-hand vehicle imports during the last six years’
Zimbabwe spent US$1, 6 billion in vehicle imports over the past six years and the country is now reviving its automobile industry to reduce the import figures, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.
Speaking during a meeting with the South African delegation, Minister Ndlovu said the country is losing potential revenue to imports.
“During the last six years, we have spent US$1,6 billion on second-hand vehicles. Not to mention the jobs that we have exported,” he said.
“So all these are opportunities that we can explore. When we create bigger interlinkages, we should be able to have value chains developed across countries where possible.”
A learning opportunity for Zim’s automobile industry
The visit by the South African business delegation to assess the country’s automobile industry is a learning curve that allows the country to showcase its vast potential given the abundance of various raw materials.
Apart from expertise, Zimbabwe also has vital minerals required in the automobile industry, including steel and lithium, among several others.
The Motor Industry Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Lawrence Nyamushanya said the SA delegation’s visit is a great opportunity for the nation to learn.
“As a motor industry, I think we are going to learn quite a lot from them,” he said.
