Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) Chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara last week won the industrialist of the year award at the Megafest Business Awards held in the capital.
The Megafest Business Awards are held annually as a way of recognizing, developing and promoting professional business acumen at all business levels.
In an interview with 263Chat, Musarara could not hide his excitement, dedicating the award to the entire milling industry.
“The country requires 1.8 million loaves per day,whenever there is a shortage of bread we are labelled saboteurs so this is not my award but l want to dedicate it to all the service delivery vans that goes around and make sure that there is enough mealie meal,enough flour,enough rice and salt to be delivered across the country.
“We are a US$1.6 billion sector and we are there to make sure that everyone here is our customer.l dedicate this award again to our customers and to the love and hate relationship we have with the government sometimes.
“We hope that we will be given enough foreign currency such that there will be bread and we remain there to serve the government of the day,” he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the awards, Musarara said they are planning to assist farmers to grow enough cereal to avert hunger and boost nutrition in the country.
Meanwhile Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube last week proposed to introduce duty free importation of raw materials under a Manufacturers Rebate in order to reduce the cost of production, thereby minimizing price escalation on bread, which is a basic household commodity.
Asked on whether the they are satisfied with the 2019 budget statement or not, GMAZ media and public relations manager, Garikai Chaunza said they will give a position this week.
