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Minister Sithembiso Nyoni

Kiyapili Sibanda, Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT is championing rural industrialisation through capacitating small-scale businesses and cooperatives, an official has said.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development, Sithembiso Nyoni, in Lupane on Thursday, the ministry’s Matabeleland North provincial head, Mr Masauso Phiri, said Government had put in place a programme to promote rural rural industrialisation.

“The Zimbabwean economy can only be revived through rural industrialisation hence Government is assisting small-scale businesses and co-operatives in rural areas,” he said.

Mr Phiri said the small and medium enterprises sector was the country’s largest employer and was contributing to the Gross Domestic Product.

Mr Phiri said businesses being assisted included abattoirs, furniture manufacturing and honey processing.

“I want to urge you as Lupane entrepreneurs to stive to improve quality of your products so that  they are competitive,” said Mr Phiri.

He said his ministry on its part will continue to assist in capacity building,  market linkages and capital injection.

Earlier this year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe set aside $5 million for various capacity building projects in the country with half a million dedicated to financing micro small to medium enterprises.

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