Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has applauded the manufacturing sector for its resilience amid operational challenges posed by decades of illegal sanctions, natural disasters and Covid 19 pandemic.
The President said this today while in Mutare, Manicaland Province, where he toured the newly commissioned Kiln and Vineer plant at Wattle Company.
“As Government, we applaud the manufacturing sector for remaining resilient in the midst of shocks presented by the imposition of illegal sanctions, natural disasters and now Covid 19 pandemic. The fact that locally produced goods now constitute a larger share of our country’s supermarket shelves, should encourage consumers to also buy products made in Zimbabwe.
“The development will have a positive impact on sustainable social economic growth, employment and empowerment creation as envisaged in the National Development Strategy 1,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa challenged the Manicaland Province to scale up production so that Vision 2030 could be achieved.
“As a producer of export products such as tea, timber and macadamia nuts among other products, I challenge the Province to scale up its production levels towards the attainment of an empowered and prosperous upper middle income economy status,” added the President.
The Head of State further said that the proximity of Manicaland Province to the eastern coastline should translate to greater access to regional and continental markets as well as increased exports for the various companies.
The President further exhorted the private sector to position their products with regards to regional and international production, productivity and pricing trends for enhanced competitiveness.
He said innovation and continuous improvements were fundamental factors that the manufacturing sector must continuously pursue.
President Mnangagwa said Government was aware of the operational challenges being faced by the industry and urged the private sector to continue to proactively engage the Government and its agencies in the spirit of dialogue, engagement and moving the country towards a more prosperous society.
The Head of State continues to tour several companies as he continues commissioning projects that have come to life under the New Dispensation. Last week, he was in Bulawayo where he visited several companies in that Province.
The President was accompanied by Defence Minister Cde Oppah Muchinguri, Minister of Information and Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Industry and Commerce Sekai Nzenza and other senior Government officials.
