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Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa

Prosper Ndlovu, Business Editor
MANUFACTURING industries should take advantage of renewed momentum in the mining sector to create a strong supply chain synergy that will boost their earnings, Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister, Chiratidzo Mabuwa, has said.

In an interview in Bulawayo yesterday, Dep Min Mabuwa said Government was ready to assist local industries in establishing strategic partnerships with mining firms for the supply of critical equipment and other raw materials.

“Industry revival has to encompass working with the mining sector in three categories. There is the engineering side, chemicals or consumables and the personal protection aspects,” said the Deputy Minister.

“Presently about 11 percent of mining supplies are done locally and the rest are imported. This presents an opportunity and we want to increase the local percentage supply by linking the manufacturing sector with mines and increasing visibility on what they can offer.”

The mining sector is a key driver in the economy with exports receipts for the first half of 2017 having surpassed $1 billion. The sector targets $3 billion earnings this year.

Dep Min Mabuwa said her ministry was geared to support existing firms to increase production capacity for mining requirements. She said her visit to Bulawayo this week was meant to build on the gains of the just ended Mine Entra Expo, by identifying companies in the city that need support to harness mining supply opportunities.

“We want to ascertain capacities of industries that supply the local market but have also potential to supply the external market so that we expose them to the Sadc, Comesa, TFA and bilateral opportunities and so on,” she said.

Dep Min Mabuwa said her ministry was working closely with bodies such as ZimTrade and others to assist local companies on the trade front, noting that the country has so far done well in resuscitating the food and beverages processing sub-sectors.

“We have done well so far on the final product aspect but we still need to do more on the intermediate value chain area.

“ As industry we need to focus on contributing more to exports,” said the Deputy Minister.

She said establishing a sound production base was crucial in driving the “Buy Zimbabwe” campaign and spearheading the local content policy.

Deputy Minister Mabuwa commended the synergy between the manufacturing and agriculture sectors saying local firms deserved applause for adequate supply of inputs such as seed, fertiliser, chemicals and implements.

She, however, admitted that more needed to be done on the implements side.

“There are opportunities for manufacturing in agriculture and mining and something has to be done. That something has to start here in Bulawayo.

“We do have the capacity and as a ministry we are there to assist companies in enhancing competitiveness through the ease of doing business,” she said.

The Deputy Minister said it was unfortunate that some firms have lost capacity due to “negligence” and there was no logic for the country to be importing bolts, nails and buttons, which locals could do.