Goddard pleads for ‘friendly’ policies

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THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to demonstrate a friendly welcome policy to attract potential business partners by, for example, removing countless roadblocks.

THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to demonstrate a friendly welcome policy to attract potential business partners by, for example, removing countless roadblocks. BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

JRG Contracting Company managing director Jim Ross Goddard said numerous roadblocks on the country’s highways did not encourage free flow of goods, making the situation unfriendly to potential business partners.

Goddard was addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland chapter annual business awards held on Friday in Bulawayo where he was guest of honour.

Goddard said the government should remove unnecessary delays at border posts to attract much-needed business to lift the struggling economy.

“Once past the border posts, there are significant delays caused by unnecessary police roadblocks hindering the flow of commercial traffic within our territory,” he said.

“We need to make an accessible, welcoming and efficient environment to encourage and attract potential business partners than to discourage them with unnecessary police roadblocks.”

It has become usual, though frustrating, to see police mounting security checkpoints almost every 20km to 30km on major highways, despite public outrage.

Numerous checkpoints have been viewed as a new illegal cash cow for the police.

Some officers have been routinely arrested for demanding bribes from motorists.

Goddard urged Zimbabweans to spend within their means, buy locally-produced goods and encouraged the government to put caps on unnecessary imports to save industries.

“We as Zimbabweans must live within our means and not spend money recklessly.

“We must control unnecessary imports particularly with respect to food stuffs and consumables that we should be producing within our own borders,” Goddard said.

Zimbabwe’s import bill for the month of April was $466 million against exports of $186 million.

Goddard’s call comes at a time recurrent expenditure (money spent on goods and services, such as wages, which does not create fixed capital assets) chews up over 90% of government income.

Meanwhile, this year’s ZNCC Matabeleland chapter business awards were held under the theme International Synergies, Local Competiveness and Global Relevance — the Key to Address Zimbabwe’s Liquidity and Industrial Revolution.

Inclusive Financial Services founder, Gerald Zhou, scooped the 2014 businessman of the year award while PPC Zimbabwe managing director Njombo Lekula won the manager of the year prize.

The transformational leader, businesswoman and rural businessman of the year awards were won by Busisa Moyo from United Refineries, Eunice Dlamini from M and M Joyous Events and Mandla Manyathela of Tsholotsho respectively.