via Govt appeals to private sector – DailyNews Live by Ndakaziva Majaka 1 APRIL 2014
Government’s has appealed to the private sector to help it in the implementation of its ambitious economic blueprint Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset).
In the next four years, government targets to create 2,2 million jobs, unlock $1,8 trillion in idle mineral reserves and grow the economy by an average seven percent annually, among other objectives under ZimAsset.
Mike Bimha, Industry minister in President Robert Mugabe’s Cabinet, told a Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) conference last Thursday that government was facing a policy implementation crisis.
“As we all know, the country has got policies that fall short in the implementation department,” he said.
“I am appealing to the private sector to help government in the implementation of these policies to speed up economic development,” he added.
The ZNCC conference, funded by the British embassy was a forum created to facilitate deliberations on seven research papers by the private sector focused on solving the economic woes besieging the country.
The papers will be presented to government. Bimha said the country needs to formulate credible policy proposals that address issues like strengthening fiscal management, reducing financial sector vulnerability and improving the business climate to attract investment and enhance competitiveness.
“The seven papers… are all designed to get input from public for investment climate reform. (They are coming at a time when according to the World Bank Doing Business Index of 2013, Zimbabwe was ranked 72 out of 185,” he said.
ZimAsset comes on the back of a string of economic policies that have failed to inspire confidence in the country’s economy.
These include the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme, Zimbabwe Programme for Economic and Social Transformation and the abandoned Medium Term Plan that was supposed to run until next year, among others.
The World Bank has said five years of implementing investor-friendly policies in Zimbabwe’s mining sector alone could increase annual output by $5 billion.
Meanwhile, deputy British ambassador to the country Chris Brown said Zimbabwe would lag behind its African peers in development if its government does not enforce investor-friendly policies.
The investment-starved country is desperately trying to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and access international lines of credit.
But investors and financiers are wary of its policies, particularly the indigenisation law compelling foreigners to cede majority shareholding to black locals.
“Zimbabwe should look directly at the elephant in the room, the continued uncertainty over the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment.
“Zimbabwe should therefore follow an investor friendly path and this alone would give a seven percent GDP growth per year. This is ignoring her abundant agricultural resources and exceptionally-educated labour force,” Brown said.
The British diplomat said investors would continue shunning the country if their concerns about the business climate are not addressed.
COMMENTS
The overwhelming priority must surely be to replace the current “Cleptocracy” with a genuine Democracy…
In short, “Bob” and his band of thieves must go. Simple.
Bimha can shout as much as he wants, the last word is Bob and the Junta.These chaps don’t even bother to read this Zimasset document.
Their interest is in amassing as much personal wealth and women as possible. I don’t think Mnangagwa knows how many kids he has got,and that’s someone who wants be president.they have no national ethos at all.
Businesses are aware ,but unfortunately ZANU will use threats if all fails,.
I know of an indigenous business that ZANU was threatening to indigenize.
indigenisation is irrevocable Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.
Never say never, it has a habit of jumping up and biting you.
Yo, Jono, its now a Chinese colony!… 😉
And, by the way, Jono. If Zimbabwe had NEVER been a colony, you would not exist…. Think about that one.
Its better to be a colony if that puts food on the table than not to be a colony without food on the table. IDIOT
Not long before they make Chinese compulsory in the school curriculum! Out with sadaza and in with fired rice…
meant Sadza and Fried Rice….
Zanu you are truly simple minded. You have forced many companies to close down and now you are begging for help. Complete nonsense. Who is advising you on economics. It must be Nikuv.
Jono comment is typical of the zanupf brainwashing imagine a whole nation of these idiots
Oh for heaven’s sake everyone I’m being sarcastic-don’t any of you read my comments. It’s pretty damn obvious I am anti zanu, mugabe and especially anti ‘apolitical’ Read between the lines!!
Jono…
“indigenisation is irrevocable Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.”
A ONE line statement, by you… How do you expect people to “read between the lines” of a ONE LINE STATEMENT?!…
I believe Jono mis-spoke. He probably meant to say that few on this forum still retain their sense of humor – and it’s all because of the sanctions! Right Jono?
absolutely DL, ZimJim doesn’t do irony. I’ll have to spell it out and paint pictures next time
Jono is just being sarcastic. He knows Zimbabwe is now a Chinese colony, he knows indigenisation is reversible and is unworkable under zanupf.
Yep! You are. we are a bit slow on this site sometimes!
We need national plans beyond a 5 year period. We only think in terms of 5 years. The next election. Our situation requires a different thinking.
Dream on Bhimha, you keep saying that you will enforce a take over by indiginous Zimbabweans (Read ZANU PF Flunkys)of 51% of the private sectors businesses Now you come cap in hand. begging bowls extended in the great tradition of Zanu PF asking for help. You ZANU trash live in a dream world and very soon now you will wake up and your whole crooked empire will have collapsed.
Funny man ZimJim. What a waste of time, 7 research papers, the only way out is getting rid of ZANU.
Message from the private sector to ZANU.
Get knotted
I second that!
Motion carried
Credible,strengthening,management,business climate,attracting investment and competitiveness, these are all words that would work in society where there is adherence to laws and constitutions but not in the present climate.
Dear Zanu PF, please give us one good reason why we should trust you. You never talk to us, you never listen. You go out and do exactly what you want and you have destroyed this nation. If you will repent, truly repent, and we begin to see the fruit of your repentance then maybe we can start somewhere. God has always said that pride comes before a fall and He hates arrogance. You say you care for your people and yet your policies, greed, selfishness and hard hearts have brought terrible suffering upon this nation. We are a nation of around 14 million people not just a political party. When are you going to open your eyes and see the truth. When are you going to begin to ask for forgiveness. When are you going to accept your guilt; for that is when God will begin to work. not before. You should have leadership renewal and long, long time ago and now you have painted yourselves into a corner. the only way out is through repentance. No repentance! No restoration. And the private sector are closing down daily because of where Zimbabwe is politically. Please wake up! So how can you expect their help. There is no way out except you accept responsibility. No repentance! judgment. it is knocking on the door.
“I am appealing to the private sector to help government in the implementation of these policies to speed up economic development.” This seems quite correct from my brother Mr Bimha, but how far does the govt see the inconsistent messages it sends to investors and the private sector through poor policing which reflects ant-investment dimensions. The impunity on corruption and mega-salaries and inaction against perpetrators cast an ugly aspersion on the issue of the rule of law. May Home bred diaspora Zimbabweans would like to invest in their beloved Zimbabwe, byt so far the govt has not shown that it has the proper legal/institutional framework for protection of its citizens, let alone private property to non-Zanupf people. If it is doing something it should work harder in that ares because the perception is that anyone can grab anything from anyone at any time as happened when bases were set. Most are likely to perecive the current quitetness, not as a sign of peace, but as a ploy to lure investors and then at a very sudden time in the future grab their investments through similar policies such as disproportionately skewed indigenisation policy ehich appearr emotionally based and grossly unreasonable and seems to be done in bad faith for a select few, as is evident now more than ever.
In this scenario the ball is in the government’s court…before it courts the private sector (which has always been cooperative under normal circumstaces). However the conditions now are far from normal as govt keeps on dithering, posturing as if waiting for the guys to finish stealing govt money befor serious reforms are done. HONESTLY – WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR TO NORMALIZE THINGS. WE THOUGHT THE GAMES WERE TO GAIN SEATS IN ELECTIONS….NOW THAT ELECTIONS ARE OVER THE CHILD PLAY CONTINUES UNABATED REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS IT AT STAKE AND THE REPERCURSSIONS IF THE FIASCO CONTINUES UNCHECKED. WE DO NOT DEMAND A CHANGE IN GOVT BUT WE REITERATE THAT THE CURRENT GOVT KNOWS WHAT TO DO BUT LACKS THE WILL OR HAS A DANGEROUS AGENDA OF KILLING ITS PEOPLE BECAUSE WE FIND NO REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR A GOVT TO KEEP AT BAY AN ECONOMIC BEHEMOTH RARING TO THRUST FORWARD. DON’T REMOVE INDEGENISATION….BUT BE VERY VERY SOBER ABOUT IT. NO GRUDGES….NO SOUR GRAPES….JUST COOL CALCULATING SANITY AND NO EMOTIONALISM. INCREMENTAL EMPOWERMENT IS BETTER THAN RADICAL EMPOWERMENT BECAUSE IS SCARES THE VERY INVESTORS FROM WHICH GOVT WANTS TO GET MONEY. IS IT SO HARD TO SEE OR ARE WE SO HARD HEARTED. gUYS, GUYS GUYS GUYS WE ALL NO WHAT TO DO, BUT GOVT MUST LAY THE MACRO-ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS.
I think wealth creation works for me, rather than wealth transferance (aka robbery followed closely by destruction of wealth)
Ring ring…hello govt, this is the Pvt Sector. We want to and can help you if you…..repeal the outdated communist labour laws, reduce taxation across the board, allow FDI…click click. Hello, hello, Govt are you there. No? Oh well sorry we can’t help you. As you were chaps.
Well said Jonson. Let’s help build Zimbabwe. A number of people are coming up with viable Projects proposals and British investors are willing to finance these.We are processing these so we urge the Zimbabwean public and business community to come up with your ideas, put them on paper and make them meet bankable project standards and let us look at them.The good news is that other countries are coming on board and are looking at investing in many sectors.So Zimbabweans do not be left behind, it’s not about which political party you belong. Send your proposals to funganayimutamiri@yahoo.co.uk.
The first step toward economic recovery would be the repeal of POSA.
I think John Thomas sums it up rather well…perfectly in fact.
Funganayi, it just doesn’t work like that. A business proposal/idea is a valuable asset, which has to be protected. Why can’t you just give the names of the British investors or whatever they are who are willing to invest in Zimbabwe.
Remember, except in extractive industries such as mining, where quick profits can be realised, international investors are quite wary about investing in Zimbabwe at the moment simply because there is no guarantee that their money, capital goods and other assets can be protected. And, of course, the controversial 51 perecent indigenous directive. To put it short, except for the politically connected Chinese and other investors, the current Zimbabwean climate is NOT conducive to international investment.
51 percent.
Wait and see the economy will eventually tame the rude and misguided to change the notorious indigenisation policy.They can have millions of talks about improving the economy but nothing fruitful will come out until they come out with a workable policy.We are not in a bush war where the gun counts but we are fighting a war which can be won by intelligent decisions not bullets.Its easy to win a military war because the number of personnel and bullets count not in this silent war.It kills gradually and leaves you desperate and clueless.You cannot win this economic war without the help from other countries around the world,so we have to bow down to internationally accepted standards of doing business.