By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Business Economic Empowerment Forum is lobbying Government to amend laws to allow local companies to have 80 percent procurement monopoly.
According to BEEF, a local indigenization lobby group with members across Zimbabwe, procurement was a low hanging fruit.
“There is need for Government to ensure that 80 percent of procurement is done by local companies whether it is in private or public entities.
“This is because it will provide manufacturing companies to identify business opportunities. If you look at the road construction the quarry is mined locally, so even the Chinese when they get contract the procurement should be done by a local company because these are low hanging fruits,” Dr Solomon Matsa, the BEEF president said.
He said as BEEF they were hunters of business and were looking at six key areas.
“These include infrastructure development, agriculture, mining, tourism, procurement and manufacturing.
“We are saying Zimbabwean should own their businesses and create employment because we have a listening President (ED).
“So we are working with developmental ministries such as mining to try and provide solutions and also complain on how we think business should go,” Dr Matsa explained.
Founded in November 2017 by business owners, BEEF seeks to promote economic empowerment of Zimbabweans including the diaspora.
“As it stands, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) are run by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and not the real owners of the businesses,” Dr Matsa said.
At part of its mandate, BEEF gives Zimbabweans an opportunity to start businesses without capital.
Some of BEEF members have excelled in road constructions, mining and agriculture with companies like Masimba, Fossil and Exodus doing well in road construction.
In line with the mantra leaving no one and no place behind, BEEF has lined up a series of symposium for business people to engage with President Mnangagwa with a view to air their vision, problems and solutions in business.
Dr Matsa is also scheduled to travel to Malawi where he will represent Zimbabwe at a business forum.
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