Zimpapers Logo

Oliver Kazunga Business Reporter
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) has postponed indefinitely its annual congress to pave way for the harmonised elections.
The congress had been slated for Bulawayo at the end of next month. In an interview from Harare, CZI immediate past president Mr Kumbirai Katsande said the resolution to reschedule their congress was passed at their annual general meeting that was held on Thursday last week.

“We met as CZI executive and decided to postpone our annual congress indefinitely because of the general elections. We had planned it for Bulawayo from 31 July to the 3rd of August and because of the elections, it will now be held after the elections,” he said.

Mr Katsande said despite rescheduling the event, the venue remained unchanged, adding that former Cabinet Minister Nkosana Moyo who  was now based in South Africa would be the guest speaker.

He said at their recent AGM Schweppes managing director, Mr Charles Msipha, was elected as new president of the organisation.

Among other resolutions passed at the AGM, the new CZI executive was expected to review the confederation’s constitution that was last reviewed in the 1980s.

The congress is expected to devise solutions to the challenges facing the economy.

Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a rebound following the adoption of a multi-currency system in February 2009.

However, due to liquidity constraints and intermittent power supplies among others, the country’s economy has become stagnant.

Capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector has failed to improve to competitive levels in the past five years resulting in Zimbabwe becoming a net importer of goods from countries such as South Africa and the Far East.