adminproduced goods and services. The circumstances that led to the formation of the initiative are by now a matter of public record.
In essence, it was to avert the continued closure of industries as well as ensure that local entrepreneurs are not necessarily prejudiced in their country particularly given protectionist measures in most neighbouring countries as well as in reward of their resilience during Zimbabwe’s period in the economic wilderness.
An additional reason was a realisation that until and unless we took active steps to reduce unemployment and poverty we were sowing seeds of anarchy in our country and threatening the basis for sustained economic recovery, including limiting the ability to attract foreign direct investment.
Of course, we were also clear that Buy Zimbabwe should not be about blind adherence to local products and services at the expense of price, quality and other aspects related to building a competitive industry and commerce.
As we celebrate 33 years of independence, we felt it prudent to reflect on our experiences over the years by acknowledging the support given to this initiative as well as underlining that Buy Zimbabwe inasmuch as it is about choice of local versus foreign must be about a mindset that puts our country first.
The past week in particular has been revealing in the ways it has projected mindsets in our country. It seems the decision to postpone the Miners Forum to a period after the Chamber of Mines Annual General Meeting in May as well as our call for tax incentives to local producers, brought to the fore polarities that dominate our economic thinking.
For some the postponement was an indication that miners in Zimbabwe are not keen on keeping their moneys in this country and thus would do everything to delay any programme directed at supporting local companies. For others Zimbabwean businesses are inherently inefficient and corrupt and as such Government must not waste time seeking to support them.
One respondent even went further to allege that any tax incentives offered to local companies would simply be abused in ways that do not create new jobs but rather enrich Government officials and unscrupulous business persons.
In essence, opinions were divided between those who believe companies in Zimbabwe have no interest in the development of the country and should be whipped to get into line, and a group which, while acknowledging the importance of Buy Zimbabwe, is convinced that the only way local companies can become competitive is by feeling the pinch of cheap imports.
Largely ignored by the two groups is the acceptance of the reality we face as a country of high levels of poverty, unemployment and the fact that we cannot sustain the present import export parity.
Policymakers preach against imports and do little about it. Business associations shout about the challenges but take little action to go into shops to mount effective campaigns, retailers continue to close and yet do little to engage manufacturers, unions continue to watch their numbers dwindle but remain mum.
In the process Buy Zimbabwe is some lone voice that seems to swim against a tide of a reluctant nation that watches as its future is doomed by easily reversible situations.
Bee Certificate
The irony in all this is that we continue to cite South Africa as the economic model that we must emulate. Yet we refuse to accept the reality that South Africans have legislated for local consumption.
We also deny that South Africa has stringent conditions against imports into that country. They do not, for instance, allow Japanese second-hand vehicles on their roads. Their Motor Industry Development Policy offers incentives to exporters.
In South Africa you do not get a tender unless you have a BEE certificate that measures you on the basis of a defined criteria that includes local ownership, local procurement, local employment figures and manpower development.
We also seem to ignore the ever rising deficit against our neighbours, who insist that the chain stores that expand across Africa abide by local content regulations.
The idea though is not to mourn against the obvious but seek to change the way we manage our economy, define priorities and build national consensus.
As Buy Zimbabwe it has become manifestly clearly that our thinking at political level as well as social level requires a fundamental shift. As the Bible says without a vision people perish.
The author of Capitalist Nigger also realised after an in-depth analysis into why Africa continued to lag behind in development yet it is possibly the richest continent, that the mindset was totally out of sync with our God given abilities. Instead of believing that we can compete effectively with rest of the world we take pleasure in playing second fiddle to developed markets.
Instead of celebrating the rise of China, which at some point was poorer than most of our countries including Zimbabwe, we either take turns to denigrate that country or worse still become the most frequent shoppers in Shanghai, Hong Kong or any of its newly built cities.
After 33 years of independence should awaken us to the fact that as part and parcel of a global world we cannot depend on importing all manner of goods and services. Our independence should drive us to invest our energies in ensuring that we utilise of god given resources, talents to become a prosperous nation.
This by no means closing ourselves to competition. Rather it means, we must seek to understand and implement policies and programmes that promote our mining sector, agriculture, tourism and related industries. It also means we must begin to measure our success on the basis of prosperity we generate and create at home.
The local procurement conference set for June will bring Government ministers, leading miners, manufacturers and consumers to discuss and debate on practical ways of ensuring that Zimbabwe build the basis for her prosperity and stops depending on imports. Book now and help shape the future of this country.
The decision to Buy Zimbabwe begins in the mind. Let’s use our time on this earth wisely. Let’s Buy Zimbabwe. Till next week. God bless. Thank you for the feedback.
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Online Reporter