admin
Midlands Correspondent
VICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa will lead a delegation of Cabinet ministers, diplomats and captains of industry to the Midlands Business Conference slated for Gweru tomorrow.
The provincial indaba, a brainchild of the Midlands Show Society, was initially set for March before being postponed.
The grand event will be held at the Midlands Showgrounds under the theme: “Getting Midlands back to business”.
The show society’s marketing committee chairperson, Patrick Chademana said the meeting would help Midlands’ business players find opportunities in the province and on the international market.
“The Midlands Business Conference is meant for businesses in the province and stakeholders to synergise and be in a position to find solutions to the new business environment and come up with strategies that will assist small to big business people find their feet in terms of business opportunities and developments,” he said.
VP Mnangagwa will deliver a keynote address while other Cabinet ministers such as Walter Chidhakwa (mines), Joseph Made (agriculture) and Professor Jonathan Moyo (information) are also expected to attend.
Chinese Ambassador, Lin Lin and other diplomats would also take part and make presentations.
Also on the line up are company executives that include Mimosa Mine executive chairman, Winston Chitando, Alexander Johnson, Steelmakers general manager as well as Unki Mine general manager, Walter Nemasasi.
The business conference comes at a time when the province’s economy, which is largely based on agriculture and mining, has been facing a plethora of challenges.
Among these are antiquated equipment, high interest rates and power challenges.
Big companies such as Zimalloys, Zimbabwe Castings, Kariba Batteries and Lancashire Steel have shut down operations while plans are underway to resume operations at mega employers such as Zimglass and New Zimsteel, formerly Zisco Steel, among others.
Bata Shoe Company, which is now employing about 1,400 employees from 5,000 at peak and Steelmakers, are the only big companies still operating although under depressed capacity.
Online Reporter