Be innovative, industry captains urged

THERE is need for Zimbabwean businesses to be more creative in coming up with new ideas that can empower locals and successfully implement the indigenisation and economic empowerment policies to attract new investments into the country.

This came up during a breakfast meeting hosted by Zanu-PF for the business community in Manicaland to consult on how the Indeginisation and Economic Empowerment Act should be aligned with Vision 2030 and other policies.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Trevor Gifford, who was representing Katiyo Tea Estates, said Zimbabwe needs to anchor its economic development on agriculture, hence the need to move from the land reform programme and focus on productivity.

“Let us close this chapter and allow those who want to participate in economic recovery to do so. 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,” he said.

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

“What we have gathered from these consultations is that our locals should participate, they should grow the economy, to empower themselves. But it is not for Governemnt alone but the private sector should also take part. The land reform programme was a very important empowerment drive but the issue now is how do we move towards productivity. How do we now look at issues of value addition? Agriculture is the key to this economy,” he said