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ZIMBABWE’S Industrial Development Policy is a very sound policy that falls in line with the Sadc-envisaged policy and is far ahead of policies of most countries within the bloc. The conflict of interest in the previous inclusive Government proved to be the stumbling block in its implementation, an official in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has said.
Speaking to Herald Business yesterday, outgoing deputy minister Mr Mike Bimha said the IDP (2012-2012) is a very sound policy drawn in line with the envisaged Sadc policy while it is also far ahead of many other countries within the bloc.
“As a regional body, Sadc hopes to come up with an Industrial Development Policy that guides member states and so far our own policy launched last year by President Mugabe has been described as a step ahead of other member states,” he said.
There are ongoing discussions to come up with the regional policy and so far there have been calls to introduce a timeous reflection of the challenges and potential for more regionally integrated industrialisation strategies.
“The only thing that has been and is still of major concern in our context is the implementation of our policy launched last year,” added Mr Bimha.
He also said the country’s policy was tailor-made as it touches on real issues affecting Zimbabwe such as the need for transformation from being a producer of primary goods to a producer of value-added goods for both the domestic and export markets so as to achieve and maintain a healthy trade gap.
Mr Bimha expressed hope that the two main issues that hindered progress in terms of the policy’s implementation would be addressed by the new Government.
He added that funding has not been forthcoming because financial institutions were faced with liquidity challenges brought about by the Western-imposed economic sanctions making it difficult for them to access funding and loan facilities from international institutions.
Mr Bimha also said such a policy was not the sole responsibility of the industry ministry as it involves a number of cross-cutting issues that require the participation of other ministries, among them Finance, Economic Planning and Regional Integration.
As such, he added that it had not been easy to get buy-in from everyone in terms of participation during the tenure of the inclusive Government due to divergence in terms of policy.
He expressed confidence that the incoming Government would purse the IDP with focus being shifted to implementation.
“Going into the new era, I do not foresee the incoming Government crafting another Industrial Development Policy, but will rather work flat out to mobilise funding so that full implementation of the policy formulated for the period 2012-2016 comes to fruition,” he added.
Among other things, the policy seeks to increase exports, promote the diversification of the country’s export basket and increase export earnings by at least 10 percent annually from US$4,3 billion in 2011 to US$7 billion in 2016.
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