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Patrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
PROCEEDINGS at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Annual General Meeting (AGM), ended prematurely yesterday when members failed to elect new office bearers following the refusal by Manicaland region to vote citing regionalism.
ZNCC is made up of four regions namely Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Manicaland and Midlands.
Officials, who attended the AGM said the meeting, which under normal circumstances takes about an hour ended after about two hours as members failed to agree on nominations for new office bearers.
Chronicle has it on record that 39 paid up members attended the AGM.
The officials who preferred anonymity said trouble started when certain individuals were nominated for the organisation’s different posts.
“We are now being affected by regionalism because as it stands now the elections have been abandoned after Manicaland delegates walked out of the AGM,” said the official.
The official said members from Manicaland region complained that they were being sidelined when it comes to elections for posts.
Past presidents of the organisation have been from Mashonaland, Midlands or Matabeleland regions.
Confirming the issue of divisions within this business grouping while officially opening the three-day congress, Comesa secretary-general Dr Sindiso Ngwenya said the elections for the new leadership had not been completed.
Dr Ngwenya, who was one of the high profile speakers at the ZNCC congress was making opening remarks for the congress after guest of honour, Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube failed to turn up.
Dr Ngwenya urged ZNCC members to elect a leadership that had a vision to transform the organisation.
“I understand the elections were not completed. For the sake of the organisation, the underlying task is for you to make sure that you elect leadership that can transform and promote principles or vision of the organisation,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said ZNCC members were working in different directions, a move he said confused policy makers.
“I get the impression that you do not work as a collective unit. When one looks at the required regional integration, this is also a major challenge. You should be in a position to work together” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said ZNCC could not become a regional or international champion if it remained in isolation adding that such an approach would affect the competitiveness of its members.
He also said it was disappointing to note that ZNCC was not working well with the Government, which made it difficult for it to push for its desired policies.
Turning to his prepared presentation, Dr Ngwenya said it was critical that the country addresses the challenge of infrastructural development in areas such as water reticulation, power supply and sanitation.
He said those were critical factors that investors considered before committing their money to the economy.
“The country’s manufacturing and clothing textiles have also fallen considerably from the country’s peak performance in the Comesa regional market,” he said.
The congress continues today.
Bongani Ndlovu