Be more creative, local businesses urged

deal with issues of the corporate, issues to do with your people and you decide where to take your value in terms of uplifting your community,” he said.

“When ownership resides in Zimbabweans who are patriotic, we build a vibrant economy because we know that our value is not only derived in terms of profits, it is also derived in terms of communities that we uplift and the transformation in the lives of our people who will be able to transform their own households and impart real knowledge to their children, and then it becomes a systemic development thrust.”

Mr Trevor Gifford, who was representing Katiyo Estate, said Zimbabwe needed to anchor its economic development on agriculture and focus on productivity.

“We are nearly 20 years down the road from land reform. Let us close this chapter and allow those who want to participate in economic recovery to do so,” he said.

“If we really want to create employment, we need to focus on agriculture. We need to create good business policies that will give local people good opportunities to invest. If we get agriculture working, we get industry and commerce working, we get Zimbabwe working.”

Mr Gifford said agriculture and tourism were the two sectors which could turnaround the economy.

Speaking after the consultations, Zanu-PF secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Dr Mike Bimha said the consensus was that economic empowerment was a must.

“What we have gathered from these consultations is that our locals should participate, they should grow the economy to empower themselves,” he said.

“It is not (the duty) of Government alone, but the private sector should also take part.

“The land reform was a very important empowerment drive, but the issue now is employment creation for farm workers and surrounding villagers are now able to pay fees for their children. I also provide groceries at wholesale prices to the farm workers.

“There is also provision of affordable produce like sugar beans and cabbages at the producer price for the surrounding community. There is access to clean water for the neighbourhood.”

Cde Muchenje, who has since invested in a centre pivot and a tractor among other farming equipment, said he was facing challenges such as the need for state-of-the-art combine harvesters and more tractors.

“I don’t have a combine harvester, among other essential farming equipment needed,” he said.

“So, when it is harvesting time, I have to hire and at times I am told to wait. Hiring is expensive and it weighs me down.

“So, I am calling on the Government to avail cheap farming equipment to young farmers.”

Mr Muchenje paid tribute to Government for introducing Command Agriculture, which he said has been assisting a lot of farmers throughout the country.

“I would like to thank His Excellency for such an initiative in the country and his support to the youths in agriculture so that they take agriculture as a noble profession,” he said.

Mr Muchenje believes the country could increase agricultural production and regain its status as the breadbasket of the region if Western countries removed the sanctions that they have imposed on the country.

Cde Muchenje is a holder of a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree and is also studying towards ICSAZ and ICPAZ.

how we move towards productivity.

“How do we now look at issues of value addition? Agriculture is the key to this economy.”

Dr Bimha said the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act should speak to Vision 2030, as well as the party manifesto.

He said the term indigenisation had scared away investors because of its thrust on 51-49 percent share ownership, hence the need to engage stakeholders for their input.

The 51-49 percent share ownership in favour of locals has since been removed for most sectors.

Dr Bimha said the country needed to address the problem of universities that were churning out graduates who had no opportunities for employment.