Chinamasa calls for trust between Govt, private sector

FINANCE and Economic Development Minister, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, has called for renewed trust between the private sector and Government, urging the private sector to forget about past conflicts and look ahead optimistically.

This was said last Thursday during a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries meeting with Manicaland captains of industry where the Finance Minister was the guest of honour.

In the no-holds bar meeting, businesspeople expressed concern over lack of meaningful investments Manicaland despite it being endowed with so much natural resources wealth.

Prominent real estate businessman, Mr Joseph Sanhanga, expressed concern over Government’s failure to support the local industry.

“Senior Government officials are stealing our project proposals and this happened to me personally. Government is supposed to merely facilitate an enabling environment for the private sector,” said Mr Sanhanga

In response, Cde Chinamasa said Government was supposed to be hands on in strategic national interest projects such as development of power, railway and road networks and mineral extraction.

“I have heard your concerns and agree that Government should not be in the business of competing with the private sector for business. Yes, we will take strategic industry like infrastructure development of power, railways and road networks and major foreign currency earners in the mining sector. Anything considered strategic with heavy capital and considered as an enabler at macroeconomic level Government will be there,” he said

He, however, advised businesspeople not to submit project proposals to Government, but to submit proposals that just underline challenges that need Government to address at policy level.

“I strongly want to encourage you (the private sector) not to worry too much about the past. We are not going to change the past, but should draw lessons from it. Both Government and the private sector have made mistakes, but let us look forward optimistically, given the positive strides being made to resuscitate the manufacturing sector and rebuild the country’s investment portfolio,” he said.

Cde Chinamasa said Manicaland had the potential to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of the country.

He said in his 2017 national budget, the focus was on improving production

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