WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2011-07-23 Time: 14:00:02 Posted By: News Poster
I feel that this week I should begin by reiterating our mandate as Buy Zimbabwe so that everyone can see were we are going.
Buy Zimbabwe is there to promote the increased production and consumption of local goods and services.
We are more than just a promotional platform for local goods and services.
As Buy Zimbabwe, we realise that there exists a cocktail of issues that affect the process of “buying Zimbabwe” but chief among them are availability, price, quality and competitiveness
These are the issues we deal with as part of the campaign’s roadmap to success.
For those that have been following this column, you might have realised that the availability and price factors have dominated our discussions.
Also as a result of our unique environment we have said that the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign is necessarily more than just a promotional and awareness campaign but also a lobby and policy support platform.
This is why you will find that we work closely with the National Economic Consultative Forum, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Standards Association of Zimbabwe, Marketers’ Association of Zimbabwe.
A look at these organisations shows that each one is committed to addressing at least one of the above challenges that Zimbabwe is facing in terms of “buying Zimbabwe”.
The timing of the Buy Zimbabwe is right in that we have made a decision to walk this journey with the above mentioned partners to create an environment that ensures that our local products enjoy success.
We want to safeguard the local economy, create jobs and protect the consumer from abuse by unscrupulous business people.
In this regard, Buy Zimbabwe creates a mediation platform between Government, business and consumers to ensure that the desired results are achieved.
Buy Zimbabwe operates on the basis of a three Cs model that pays particular attention to co-operation, competitiveness and consumption, which again is meant to provide solutions to the cocktail of issues that I raised earlier on.
Through our all-weather friend NECF, we have already made submissions to Government on behalf of Olivine Industries, Turnall, Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe and the detergents industry which are meant to address supply constraints, price and competitiveness of their products.
Policy inconsistency is crippling local business
Olivine is saying that with the current operating environment, it makes more sense to close shop and start supplying the Zimbabwean market from South Africa.
Imagine the number of jobs that will be lost to create jobs for South Africans.
Trust me, they have the capacity to be more competitive on the local market and as Buy Zimbabwe we do not want to see them transfer that capacity to South Africa.
This is, however, the only way that they can then enjoy the benefits of the duty- free regime that South African brands such as Delight and Safflo are enjoying.
What Olivine wants is not protection from Delight, Safflo and other cooking oil brands that are on the market and I think this is where critics of the Buy Zimbabwe concept get it wrong.
The idea of buying Zimbabwe was not mooted on the basis of mere patriotism and protectionism, but takes into consideration common sense.
Olivine is calling for a level playing field here. If we are going to have zero percent duty on foreign finished goods we should also consider a zero percent duty on raw materials for basic commodities manufactured in Zimbabwe.
This is to reduce cost of production and transfer the benefits of that to consumers as low prices on local products and services.
Olivine is paying between 5 percent and 25 percent duty on raw materials depending on class.
Members of the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe are crying foul against genetically modified mealie meal and wheat flour from South Africa with a below minimum nutrient and fibre value, which is smuggled into the country.
These products are retailing in towns such as Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo at R22, which is below the source price.
I think we should be worried when we see a mother buying mealie meal labelled “not suitable for persons under 13 years” to make porridge for her school-going kids. It took the intervention of the NECF to save the pharmaceutical industry from an influx of fake drugs and drugs that were past their expiry date.
It is safe to say that we all understand the importance of globalisation and the importance of fair competition but it should not be at the expense of our own industrial base and survival.
It is then alarming that businesses are denied the opportunity to be competitive in their home turf because, as Zimbabweans, we do not believe in our own abilities.
Businesses are saying they are ready to compete and have the capacity to up their market share but they need the support of Government and the consumers.
Ms Yvonne Johnston, a leading brand expert from South Africa, said at the launch of the Buy Zimbabwe, that we need to make sacrifices as Zimbabweans if we are going achieve the success that South Africans have.
She added that we need to believe in ourselves a little bit more than we currently do. Now events such as the Buy Zimbabwe to be held on August 3, at the Africa Unity Square will be an opportunity for local companies to show what they are currently supplying to the local market and the potential that they have.
The issue is about believing ourselves a lit bit more and finding solutions to our challenges.
However, with the realisation that there are other brands who are ready and competitive enough, our work as Buy Zimbabwe is cut out for us.
Original Source: 
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Original date published: 22 July 2011
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201107221035.html?viewall=1