Zimpapers Logo

SMEs

Cletus Mushanawani Mutare Bureau
MANICALAND has the best small to medium enterprises (SMEs) which contribute significantly to job creation, says Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni.

In an interview on the sidelines of Saturday’s provincial inter-district meeting in Mutare, she said: “We recently carried out an assessment of all SMEs across the country and Manicaland is the best. The SMEs here have shown incredible growth.

“Most of them started being sole traders but they have grown to employ many people, something that is very encouraging. Some of the SMEs have transformed themselves into big bakeries, supermarkets and wholesales. They are spreading their wings to other parts of the province and even beyond. This shows excellent organisational skills which should be emulated by other SMEs across the country.

“This should be the route to follow. You cannot continue being small. Other provinces should learn from SMEs here in Manicaland.”

Cde Nyoni said SMEs had contributed significantly to the economic turnaround of the country.

“I am proud to announce that the economic fortunes of Zimbabwe have made a dramatic turn. Everyone here is doing something for survival. Through SMEs, we have surpassed the target to create two million jobs,” she said.

“I know some people may say there are no jobs but everyone is doing something to survive. We should do away with the mentality of white-collar jobs. President Mugabe is always preaching of being job-creators and not employees. We cannot be all chief executive officers of companies,” she said.

She said SMEs should be considered as serious partners in the Special Economic Zones soon to be launched.

“SMEs should be active players in all Special Economic Zones. They have the capacity of growing. Instead of us waiting for big investors, we should grow our own industries and that is when players in the SMEs come onboard,” said Cde Nyoni.

She hailed the success of Command Agriculture and urged all Zimbabweans to actively participate in command livestock and fisheries programmes being rolled out by Government across the country.

“Everyone will agree that Command Agriculture was a resounding success. Within a year of its launch, we moved away from being beggars to exporters. Thank you everyone who actively participated in the Command Agriculture Programme,” said Cde Moyo.

“Results are there for everyone to see. Everyone has plenty, something we never thought of a few years ago. With the right policies and right mindsets, we will take this country to its former glory days,” she said.

“I implore everyone to participate in one way or the other in programmes being rolled out by Government. We have different talents which we should fully utilise for the development of Zimbabwe,” she said.

She bemoaned the rampant smuggling of second hand clothes in Manicaland saying this had killed the local textile sector while money was being externalised.

“We know that people are benefitting from the cheap clothes that are being sold in flea markets across the country but the local industry has suffered a lot. Manicaland is the worst affected,” she said.

“The bringing in of second hand clothes should be done following proper channels. We should use designated entry points because the revenue being generated when you declare your goods will also contribute towards Government programmes.

“By smuggling, a lot of money is being externalised. This is one of the contributors of the current cash shortages which have resulted in long queues at banks.”