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Victoria Ruzvidzo Business Focus
A fortnight ago the Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Mike Bimha announced that Government was working on a motor vehicle policy to regularise imports and operations in this sector. This is something that this country has been yearning for in its quest to protect and support local vehicle assembly plants while also ensuring ordinary Zimbabweans have access to affordable vehicles.

Former giants such as the Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries are almost on their knees because, due to the absence of a clear motor vehicle policy, they have succumbed to competition from imports. The rough terrain they have endured for years has not shielded them from the vagaries of competition on an unlevel playing field.

The firm used to employ thousands of people at its assembly factories but growing imports, mostly from Japan, have left it with a negligible market share. It was a shining example of how to run a successful business but now it is a shadow of its former self.

However, the latest development could bring joy and employment for a large number of people not just for WMMI but other motor vehicle assemblers such as Quest Motors. Bus assemblers such as Deven and Dahmer that used to supply the local market with durable buses could also benefit from the envisaged policy.

Motor vehicle manufacturing and assembly is a strategic component of any economy. Indeed the Japanese economy, the United States, Germany, South Africa are classic examples of how this sector can fortify economies, creating thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product.

Significant portions of Foreign Direct Investments are targeted towards the lucrative sector with a high return on investment that investors are always looking for. Of course investors are not necessarily for charity but when they put a dollar somewhere, they want to see it grow. This expectation is certainly not criminal but quite a sober one.

Dr Bimha confirmed in his announcement that many investors had expressed keen interest to inject capital into the motor vehicle sector but the absence of a policy governing the sector had been the hold up.

Investors will need to know how safe their investments will be and whether the market for the vehicles will be there, given the huge influx of second-hand vehicles which have been popular with Zimbabwean because they are easy on the pocket.

Investors are also keen on policy consistency. Zimbabwe has not scored highly in this regard but undertakings have been made to ensure that there is more consistency going forward.

“We have many investors willing to invest in motor vehicle manufacturing and assembly in its various forms but they have been unable to do so because we do not have a motor vehicle policy in place.

“Investors would like to know if there are any guarantees that they will have a market because if we are to continue importing vehicles, say from Japan, there is need to come up with an acceptable arrangement that guarantees return on investment. The industry is capital intensive,” said Dr Bimha.

It boggles the mind though, as regards why we have not had a vehicle policy in place all this while. We shall not dwell on this matter but we hope that this time around much effort has been deployed towards ensure that a solid motor vehicle policy will be in place sooner rather than later.

It need not be a hurried job but one that will be done expeditiously after taking into account all the necessary factors. In this global village we live in it should not be very difficult to draw lessons from other countries and replicate aspects that have worked while twigging others to suit the local environment.

Minister Bimha and all those involved in drafting the policy will need to consult intensively and extensively to come up with a document that will transform the fortunes of this potentially viable sector.

The huge demand for motor vehicles in this country has seen an average 5 000 being imported monthly. Second hand vehicles from Japan account for 3 000 cars while the balance comes from other countries.

Zimbabwe has a vehicular population estimated at 1,2 million cars. This effectively means the market for such is huge. This country is one of the biggest markets on the continent for brands that include the Mercedes Benz.

A policy that facilitates viable car manufacturing and assembling could be a game changer in this country. It is an avenue through which Zimbabwe can receive a fair share of investment.

The local market will need to be cultivated and mindsets shifted to ensure that buyers support local productions. For instance, WMMI can come up with models and schemes that civil servants can afford while also catering for the high end markets with their SUVs and trucks.

Prospects of high employment and wealth generation should give impetus to the authorities tasked with formulating the vehicle policy. The urgency with which this should be done cannot be overemphasised.

Zimbabwe needs foreign investment, particularly for capital intensive sectors in which locals have no capacity to raise huge amounts of money to invest.

To illustrate the potential number of jobs that can be created: In 2011 Daimler AG employed about 270 000 employees of which 99 000 worked for Mercedes Benz cars division while General Motors employed about 207 000 people.

Africa has remained a huge market for the vehicle industry due largely to the increasing population and the discovery of unexploited mineral resources according to research by Afroautos.

The importation of second hand vehicles has increased from 15 percent in 1996 to 67 percent in 2012. This is also attributed to the fact that most African countries are yet to invest significantly in car manufacturing industries hence consumers rely heavily on imports.

The scenario resonates with the situation in this country. But one that should change once the policy is in place. In the same vein, authorities now need to disabuse themselves of the notion that vehicles are a luxury or a preserve of the exclusively rich. This mode of transport is an inescapable and pivotal aspect of livelihoods and should be treated as such.

So Dr Bimha we await the day the policy will be in place. This will unlock millions of dollars while ensuring that some of the unemployed thousands get a lifeline.

Titbits
As you make your resolutions learn from an eagle.

1. Eagles fly alone and at high altitude.

They don’t fly with sparrows, ravens, and other small birds.

Meaning — Stay away from narrow-mined people, those that bring you down. An Eagle flies with Eagles. Keep good company. Don’t waste time with people who don’t contribute positively into your life.

2. Eagles have an accurate vision. They have the ability to focus on something as far as 5km away. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey he grabs it.

Meaning — Having a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacles and you will succeed. Learn to spot opportunities around you and take action once you spot one. Only one idea from God will make you money. Facebook owner came up with only one idea.

Facebook Steve Jobs. Iphone Bill Gates — Windows operating System . . . just one idea from God.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey.

Meaning — Do not rely on your past success, keep looking for new frontiers to conquer. Leave your past where it belongs, in the past. Do not relish on yesterday’s success. Achievement is a continuous process . . . keep the fire burning . . . Always!

4. Eagles love the storm.

When clouds gather, the eagle gets excited, the eagle uses the storms wind to lift itself higher.

Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagle locks its wings to brave the storm and uses the raging storm to lift itself above the clouds. This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the branches and leaves of the tree.

MEANING — Challenges will come your way as long as you live on earth. Face your challenges head on knowing that these will make you emerges stronger and better than you were. We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid of storms they accept the current status and they find a way of adapting to the new challenges to rise to greater heights.

Achievers are not afraid of challenges, they are risk takers. They relish the challenges and use them profitably, fear us not your portion. You can do it . . . focus and lock your eyes and efforts on what makes you successful.

5. Eagles prepare for training. They remove the feathers and soft grass in the nest so that the young ones get uncomfortable in preparation for flying and eventually flies/ when it becomes unbearable to stay in the nest.

The eagle picks its eaglets on its back and takes them so high above the clouds . . . Then turns on its back dropping the eaglets in order to train them how to fly. And one by one the eagle picks them up before they hit the ground. In fear they eaglets finally knows how to fly.

Meaning — Allow yourself to be trained. Allow people to speak to you. You don’t know it all. Have a meek heart to learn and listen to others whatever your position in society. Leave your comfort zone. There is no growth there.

Have a mentor, submit yourself under someone. Be humble if you have to learn a new skill tough decisions have to be made and there is pain to be experienced.

Though it is dangerous the eagle drops its eaglets. God will let you go through situations and allow you to drop as if he never cared . . . but he will never leave you nor forsake you until you eventually learn how to fly like an eagle.

6. When the eagle grows old his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast and as high as it should. This makes him weak and could make him die.

So he retires to a place far away in the mountains. While there, he plucks out the weak feathers on his body and breaks its beaks and close against the rocks until he is completely bare: A very blood and painful process. Then he stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, new beaks and claws and then he comes out flying higher than before.

Meaning — Accept it! You are growing old by the day. Pleasure and the elegant you have today will fade away. There comes a time that you have to settle.

Have a family, a steady business or job, be in a steady relationship, have a house of your own. We cannot play forever. Pleasure never ends!

We occasionally need to shade off old habits no matter how difficult, things that burden us or add no value to our lives should be let go off.

Let it go, Let it go, Let it go be furious with yourself . . . be angry about your life . . . you can’t be at the same position year in year out. Take this time to shade off the bad habits . . . check and pluck out the things that make you bad . . . friends that make you unsuccessful . . . There is pain but the end thereof is success. You are a winner and you know it.

God has you by his side. You are not alone . . . do that which will make you successful!!! No-one will pluck the old feathers from you no one but you.

You have to break your own break . . . and stay in isolation to meditate and pray about your situation. Something don’t go but with prayer and fasting. Be different . . . pray more, be more, see more and grow on 2017.

Never give up you are a winner, be an eagle fly higher.

I think that your destiny is in your hands.

Take a step of faith . . . Do it and god will accomplish it!!

In 2017 learn to fight for family . . . fight for your relationship . . . fight your spouse. Fight for your children. Fight for what belongs to you . . . fight for your destiny . . . fight and fight.

In God I trust.

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