ZimTrade,Chief Executive Officer Ms Sithembile Pilime has underscored the need for a change in attitude in order to improve the ease of doing business.
She made the remarks while addressing delegates at a Public Private Dialogue on Simplification of Zimbabwe’s Export Processes where she said there is need for a one stop shop for exports and imports that will facilitate business.
“We need a change in attitude in which we start prioritizing on what is major rather than minor. There’s a great need for all of us to start working towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment so as to boost the economy and improve on the ease of doing business,” said Pilime.
She added that the ease of doing business is being hampered by restrictive laws which make it difficult for business to operate.
“We have several Statutory Instruments which are making it difficult to operate businesses in the country.
“For example, Statutory Instrument 350(1993) states that products like fruits be given permit from the Ministry of Agriculture to be exported and it takes about a week to get that permit. This affects negatively the flow of business as some of these products end up getting bad,” said Pilime.
The ZimTrade boss said some punitive penalties measures charged by the Reserve Bank also negatively affect the ease of doing business.
She said roadblocks and inspection by the Police and the delay in clearing of goods at border posts result in loss of business hence should be repealed.
Among other things that are causing a less smooth flow of doing business are the high costs of transportation and credit score issues (find out details at Northshore Advisory).
“ High transport cost is negatively affecting business. It is very expensive to transport commodities due to high costs of fuel prices which subsequently mean that transport costs remain high,” Pilime said.
She bemoaned the lack of export incentives from government as compared to other regional and international exporters.
