Industry calls for Local Content Strategy action plan
INDUSTRIALISTS and economic stakeholders have called for an action plan to the recently introduced Local Content Strategy (LCS) in an effort to move away from the chronic theorisation of critical recommendations and policy without implementation by Government and private sector alike.
This was revealed at the Buy Zimbabwe breakfast meeting held at the ongoing Zimbabwe Agricultural Show which was aimed at identifying low hanging fruits that local industry can take advantage of.
The development comes at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with incessant imports of goods which can be made locally from as low-tech as tooth picks to heavy machinery.
Local Content Strategy forms part of interventions which Government is instituting towards management of the country’s import bill, which has resulted in scarcity of foreign currency needed for the import of key commodities such as raw materials, fuel, medicines and equipment.
Some of the sectors identified in the Local Content Strategy include pharmaceuticals, oil seeds, dairy, horticulture, clothing and textiles, leather and leather products, fertiliser and chemicals, soaps and detergents among others.
While addressing delegates at the meeting renowned economist, Dr Gift Mugano, appealed for an action plan to the LCS to avert chances of mere talk without implementation.
He implored productive sectors of the local economy to grow capacity use if the country was to have a stable and stronger currency.
“The ministry has launched Local Content Strategy which seeks to domesticate production of these items, but what we don’t have is an action plan.