PPPs pay off: Minister
GOVERNMENT is doing everything in its power to support the production of local goods as it has been working hand-in-glove with the private sector, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
The Minister said this yesterday during a tour of stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Day Two of the annual showcase, that is running under the theme: “Showcasing the New Normal for Business and Industry: Realities and Opportunities.” The fair ends tomorrow.
Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector is on the rebound as evidenced by the dominance of locally-produced products being exhibited at the ongoing ZITF. Riding on the comprehensive economic policy reforms being implemented by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, the productive sector is increasing its output, and this has
seen local industries reclaiming their shelf space in retail shops, as well as occupying most of the stands at the prime trade show.
Speaking after touring the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) stand, Minister Mutsvangwa who also attended the International Business Conference said: “The Minister of Finance (Professor Mthuli Ncube) gave an outline on what they were doing and what they are continuing to do to support business to make sure that we can
ontinue to grow local production. There’s also been a lot of information given to the business people about tax and what the ministry and Government has been doing to make sure it is easier for our businesses to start taking off after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said she was excited that the 61st edition of the ZITF was being held after it failed to take place last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “What I’m seeing here are a lot of exhibitors both local and international. This morning we had an international business conference which went on extremely well, which gave
an opportunity for business and Government to interact and really forge the way forward
together.
“This is in line with what the President of Zimbabwe is saying, President ED Mnangagwa, that there is no them or us, there’s no private and public, but we as Zimbabweans, we should forge together and really come up with the Zimbabwe we want,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She commended Zinara for being transparent by telling the public how funds are being used.
“The vaccination of our people is a strategy of economic turnaround; we need to save lives and this has been going very well. I’m here at the Zinara stand and you can appreciate the work that has been done by the Second Republic.
“There is a lot of accountability and the use of ICTs, so that the monies which are collected from the public, they are accounted for and they are very transparent and go out to the public and tell them what they are doing with the monies. So, this is very good and shows that the Second Republic will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the
economy of this country moves forward,” she said.
After touring the Zinara stand, Minister Mutsvangwa visited the Zupco stand where a bus was on display and had messages of achievements by the Second Republic.
“We are very grateful to his Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa for his re-engagement as you can see what he is doing. He is a listening President. A lot of our people have been having trouble travelling from one place to another. We are having these buses coming on-board and even the introduction of the Zupco train has brought a lot of relief to our people,” she said.
While touring the Zimpapers stand, Minister Mutsvangwa said the media was playing a great role to keep Zimbabweans informed.
“We want every Zimbabwean to be informed and we are very grateful with what our media institutions have done especially in the Covid-19 era. They have gone all out to educate our people, even the ZIMVAC report attests that 98 percent of the people in this country are actually aware of the preventative and precautionary protocols,” Minister
Mutsvangwa said.
She said Government and the private sector have managed to work well together, with the media in the forefront.
“That’s why we say our media people are frontline workers. Even when it came to vaccination, we wanted our journalists to be the first ones. The job they have been doing is very much appreciated. We continue as a country despite Covid-19 and sanctions. We see Zimbabweans working hard to make sure that we get to where we want to go,” said the minister.
She implored Zimpapers to continue educating and entertaining Zimbabweans.
She said while the trade fair was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the people of Zimbabwe have showed resilience. Ends-The Herald
