Bulawayo-KZN business leaders forge ways to strengthen synergies

BUSINESS leaders from Bulawayo and counterparts from South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) province held a joint meeting yesterday where they expressed commitment to collaborate and strengthen synergies to unlock mutual investments and trade interests.

The visiting KZN delegation brought representatives of 11 businesses from different sectors such as manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, information communication technology and tourism who are keen to work closely with Bulawayo. Bulawayo businesses were drawn from tourism, manufacturing and agriculture, among others.

Durban Direct subcommittee chair, Ms Thulisile Galelekile made a presentation outlining the opportunities offered by KZN and how Bulawayo firms could exploit such opportunities.

Durban Direct subcommittee chair, Ms Thulisile Galelekile

She said KZN is strong in driving trade, investment and tourism relationships and that Zimbabwe was one of the top trading and tourism partners.

“Its very important for us to engage with the businesses in Zimbabwe so that we grow the trade between our two countries,” said Ms Galelekile.

She said they brought representatives of businesses so that they could engage with their Zimbabwean counterparts.

Ms Galelekile said Bulawayo was strategically located to trade with KZN and as such enhancing trade between the two cities will make it easy for the region to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is focused on boosting intra-regional trade.

Delegates and stakeholders follow proceedings at the Durban Direct workshop at a hotel in Bulawayo yesterday. (Picture by Vuyani Ncube)

“What is key is to grow the trade partnerships and relationships with countries that are signatories to the trade agreement,” she said.

Ms Galelekile said countries from the region should therefore take advantage of the trade agreement meant to promote trade on the continent.

Bulawayo already has a twinning partnership with Ethekwini municipality established in 2002, which positions the two cities to tap into each other’s investment and trade potential. In a briefing session during the meeting, Bulawayo mayor, Councillor David Coltart said the two cities have an opportunity to tap into the tourism sector saying that the two cities have a link through history, culture and heritage.

“This city is completely under-marketed from a tourism perspective. It’s one of the oldest cities. Mzilikazi came here from present day Gauteng in 1839 and he established his Kingdom here,” he said.

Cr Coltart said events such as last week’s King Mzilikazi Memorial generate a lot of public interest and connect Bulawayo to KZN, which offers huge tourism opportunities.

“We have this unique common history, common language as Ndebele and Zulu are exactly the same,” he said.

Clr Coltart also urged Air Zimbabwe and Fastjet to introduce direct flights from Bulawayo to Durban to promote trade between the two cities.

In her response, Fastjet chief commercial officer Mrs Vivian Ruwuya said as Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the proposal opens a lot of opportunities for businesses.

Mrs Vivian Ruwuya

“We are always looking at how we can further develop our network hence we will partner with Durban Direct because it’s not always about now but the future is what we are also looking at,” said Mrs Ruwuya.

In an interview on the sidelines of the meeting, local business consultant, Dr Lucky Mlilo, said the engagement is critical for the City of Bulawayo and southern region. In the tourism sector Mr Vengai Nhau said Bulawayo was the best tourist destination with great potential given its easy access Matopos, Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe, Harare and Eastern Highlands among other tourist destinations.

“At the moment the city is not being fully utilised and this Durban Direct engagement is set to bring benefits to Bulawayo and the entire region,” said Mr Nhau.

Today the visiting delegation will meet Harare businesses. – chroncile