ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe is set to establish at least one factory in each of the country’s 63 districts through a national wide initiative aimed at promoting industrialisation in the country.
This follows the approval of the Zimbabwe National Industrial Policy (ZNIDP), spanning 2019-2023, that intends to promote decentralisation of industrialisation.
The ZNIDP seeks to turn the manufacturing sector into a technologically advanced, competitive and diversified industry by 2030.
The initiative intends to facilitate and promote the development of sustainable, innovative, inclusive and globally competitive industrial and commercial enterprises for improved consumer welfare and economic growth.
The policy will be guided by several principles including; prioritisation of standards and quality infrastructure, a stable macro-economic environment; policy consistency and value addition and beneficiation.
Other principles will include; upgrading and modernisation of industrial equipment and machinery; promoting sustainable industrial development; strong research and innovation and effective cooperation between private sector and Government among others.
Under the initiative, the government seeks to promote industrialisation through provision of incentives and targeted financing, policy support and business development services.
The interventions seeks to stimulate establishment of micro, small, medium and large scale manufacturing industries in rural areas in line with available local resources.
“There shall be a deliberate thrust to develop factories in every district under the one district one factory concept. This will enhance the empowerment of marginalised rural communities,” partly reads the policy.
According to a report by NewsDay, the Treasury has allocated US$310 million to facilitate the devolution of power to provincial councils to enhance the industrial development.
Development of rural industries will be facilitated through linkages between higher education institutions and the private sector thereby encouraging research and development in processing and packaging of naturally available products.
According to the policy, provincial and district authorities will be required to come up with local industrialisation and incentive frameworks which are in line with the ZNIDP and the devolution agenda.
“Industrialisation will also be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas.
“Processing of traditional agricultural products such as sorghum, rapoko, marula fruits and mopani worms can spur the creation of new factories in source areas.
Local flora and fauna can also be used as raw materials in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and as such, also offer value addition opportunities,” the policy outlines.
The initiative will also revitalise the once vibrant diversified industrial sector which has recently suffered significant setbacks and rapid informalisation.
