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Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT ministries have been urged to harmonise their operations in order to assist small to medium enterprises and cooperatives to access land for their businesses.

In Zimbabwe, most of the land is owned by the government on behalf of the people.
Speaking during an SMEs seminar in Bulawayo last week, participants said lack of harmony between government ministries, notably the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ministry of Lands and Rural Development and the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, was negatively affecting small businesses.

Cooperatives suggested that the land policy be reviewed to factor in their interests too.

“I’d like to suggest that the Ministry of SMEs works together with the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Local Government so that we can access land as cooperatives,” said a representative of housing cooperatives.

“Our housing cooperative has 100 members but you’ll find that only 20 have been allocated stands. We’d sincerely appreciate government’s help in that regard.”

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Evelyn Ndlovu, acknowledged the concern and pledged to take further steps to engage relevant ministries.

Women in mining complained that banks were not funding mining, which cripples their efforts to procure efficient equipment.

Ndlovu said her ministry would chip in to help women miners buy a stamp mill valued at $40,000.

“We need tents for shelter and other things when we stay in the bush for mining,” said one of the women miners.