Craft policies focused on SMEs growth

VENDORS Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) comfy the call by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi for small-to-medium enterprises to grow their businesses, during his recent tour of Jumbo trading centre and Copacabana mall in Harare.

It is most appreciated when the higher offices in the land engage the informal sector and we hope to see momentum on the implementation of the national micro, SMEs policy 2020-2024 which is designed to create an environment in which local authorities provide conducive workplaces and financial institutions provide easy access to funds for the informal sector.

The reality is that the changes in the business operating environment that saw capital flight by multinational corporations mean that the growth of the country’s economy hinges on the informal sector which now provides well over 80% of jobs.

It is, therefore, critical that the authorities craft policies focused on growth of this sector rather than treat it as a backwater.

As Viset, we equally welcome the suggestion by Women Affairs, Community,

Small and Medium Enterprise Development deputy minister Jennifer Mhlanga that there was need to lobby local authorities and the private sector to avail idle industrial premises to SMEs who were struggling to access working spaces.

We shall definitely be engaging her ministry on this and other ideas we as a representative body feel can further improve the lot of our membership to ensure they play an even greater role in the development of the national economy.

Viset