Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce has called on industry representative bodies to effectively disseminate information to its members on critical matters.

The call comes after the business community did not show up at two Parliamentary hearings that were slated for Victoria Falls on Monday  and Bulawayo yesterday to deliberate on the National Competitiveness Commission Bill (NCCB).

The NCCB seeks to create a competitive environment for Zimbabwean businesses through the development, coordination and implementation of key policy improvements and to repeal the National Incomes and Pricing Act [Chapter 14:32].

The portfolio committee’s chairperson Mr Edmond Mhere told Business Chronicle that the absence of industry representatives at such                forums was disturbing because this was an opportunity for businesses to air their views on the Bill.

“Yesterday we were in Victoria Falls and the industry representatives there did not attend. Today we were here (Bulawayo) at the venue by 9.30AM but nobody turned up,” he said.

“After making some inquiries, we found out that some were informed only yesterday. We hope that after having spoken to them today, they’ll inform their members of this and encourage them to attend, starting tomorrow in Gweru.”

Mr Mhere who is also the Member of Parliament for Masvingo Central blamed the no-show of the business community on lack of communication within the businesses associations themselves.

“This is the right time for industry to say what they don’t want in the Bill so that all their input is captured.

“It is up to the stakeholders to tell us what they really want to see in the Bill,” he said.

The portfolio committee will be in Gweru today, Masvingo tomorrow, Mutare on Friday and Harare the following day. —@BiancaMlilo

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