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VP Mujuru

Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
AT least 200 delegates are expected to attend the 121st Zimbabwe National Chamber annual congress that will tackle among other issues the country’s risk profile, financing options for business in difficult times and the promotion of a culture of productivity.The congress, to be held under the theme; “Translating Economic Blue Prints into Growth”, runs from June 25 to 27 in Victoria Falls.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru will be the guest of honour.

ZNCC deputy president, Davison Norupiri, told Business Chronicle yesterday that the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), would underpin the theme of the congress.

He said the congress would come up with solutions to the economic challenges facing business.

“We hope to discuss issues like managing the country risk factors and financing options for business in difficult times. There will be respective speakers for the topics” said Norupiri.

“We are also going to be discussing infrastructural development that is the rail, road, water and sanitation. The congress is set to come up with solutions to the challenges that the nation is facing economically. The results are also going to be compared to those of our major trading partners.”

The congress, which brings together key business leaders, decision makers and government officials to discuss critical issues relating to the economic development in the country, comes at time when the rate of economic growth continues to slow down with gross domestic product (GDP) estimated to have grown by 3,4 percent in 2013, down from an estimated 10,6 percent in 2012.

The slowdown in growth is largely on the back of a lull in performance of the key sectors, particularly agriculture and mining.

The business body said there was a need for a concerted effort to address deep seated challenges affecting the economy in the form of a shared national vision.

“The congress is therefore set to tackle key issues that continue to hamper the realisation of our aspirations as enunciated in the various economic blue prints that the government has produced over the years.

“The congress will further look into the prospects of the Zim-Asset and position the private sector role in achieving its noble objectives,” ZNCC said in its concept paper.

The African Development Bank will discuss the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe: Implications on industry and the way forward. They will highlight the areas the country is doing badly and give the reasons why this is so.

The new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya, Barclays managing director George Guvamatanga, former central bank boss Gideon Gono, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa and businessman Joe Mutizwa are some of the high level speakers at the event.

Chinamasa will speak on corporate governance in Zimbabwe’s public and private sector — the current state and implications.

The ZNCC will present the results of a snap survey on the levels of productivity among its members.

Economists Joseph Mverecha and James Wadi will give their perspectives on the structural economic enablers of the economy, their current state; constraints and what can be the way forward to resolve their deficiencies.

They will also explore the current state in terms of functionality of these infrastructures, current capacity, desired capacity and the impact on achieving the desired Zim-Asset objectives and the impact on business in particular.