Zim Now Writer
The Government of Zimbabwe ought to set realistic targets that are cognisant of the country’s contextual setup.
The remarks were made at the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy stakeholder validation workshop in Harare Tuesday held with an aim to fine-tune the policy framework set to run between 2024 to 2030.
The Policy is informed by Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 1, as well as regional and international policies on industrialisation.
Industry and Commerce Ministry’s permanent secretary, Doctor Mavis Sibanda, said the policies will be essential in promoting rural industrialisation.
“In line with our commitment to achieve balanced and inclusive development across all regions of Zimbabwe, the policy places a significant focus on promoting rural industrialisation.
“Through targeted interventions and support mechanisms, we aim to unlock the potential inherent in our rural areas, ensuring that the benefits of industrial growth reach every corner of the nation,” she said.
However, stakeholders attending the event reckoned that while Zimbabwe is still at a bread and butter stage, some of these targets have to be feasible.
“Let’s look at our country’s context and gravitate towards moving out of the challenges using internal solutions.
“Secondly, we need to desist from following the template of developed economies which are not at the stage we are at currently. Those countries made sacrifices and most of them who are now dictating the need to adhere to clean energy sources usage were not even so green when they developed their economies but now that they want to clean themselves, they are setting high standards for us,” said one participant.
Other participants urged the government to come up with tailor-made policies to nurture the SMEs sector decrying that the level of taxation small companies is being whipped with are just similar to that of bigger corporates, a development which in turn stifles industrial growth.
“There is an urgent need for the government to be strict on supporting locals by making sure that Public Procurement Policy is tilted towards consuming locally manufactured products.
“Enactment of a Local Content Strategy when in fact millions are being spent in purchasing foreign products by the government agencies and departments defeats calls to support local,” another participant said.
The National Industrial Development Policy is the principal policy that drives the industrialisation agenda of the country.
The forthcoming framework succeeds the ZNIDP 1 which ran from 2019 and will be concluded at the end of 2023.
To this end, the first policy document is credited for spurring capacity utilisation from 47% to 56,1% between 2020 and 2022.
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