Golden opportunity to revive Bulawayo

Q & A

+HON. MASUKU:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  My question is directed to the Minister of Industry and Commerce.  What is Government doing in regard to reviving the industry in Bulawayo?  May I be informed as to when Government is going to come into the revival of industry in Bulawayo?  I thank you.

+THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE (HON. MABUWA):  Thank you Madam Speaker.  I thank the Hon. Member for such a pertinent question in regards to the revival of industry in Bulawayo.  Let me say that it is important that the country should know that yes, we are not just looking at Bulawayo, but the entire country.  What is important is that Bulawayo, as we know, is the industrial hub of Zimbabwe.  What we are doing, as we planned to do just after our promotion at the trade fair this year, was to ensure that we see investors focus on Bulawayo.

As we speak right now, there are certain companies that are there in Bulawayo that have been revived.  I can give you an example such as Datlabs.  In 2013, when we inaugurated our focus on Bulawayo, Datlabs was operating at 18%, but at present, they are now operating at 78%.  We have other textile industries that have been revived, but that is not sufficient.  What I ask is that as the people are listening, those people in Bulawayo, if there are any projects that they have, they should try and ensure that as they do these businesses, they should approach us because we have certain funds that are there, that have been set aside for the revival of industries, especially those that benefit or come from Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2016.

If you come, you will be able to access the funding that has been set aside for the revival of such industries.  May I appeal that as I speak, Bulawayo has been designated as a special economic zone and we are focusing our minds and accept that Bulawayo should be looked at specifically, with a view to revive its industry.  I thank you.

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