Zimbabwe, Zambia to Collaborate on MSME Development

By Ilyana Sithole

In a move that cements bilateral relations, the Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, received a five-member delegation from Zambia led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Subeta K. Mutelo, who are in the country on a benchmarking visit to share experiences on MSME development.

She described the importance of this visit during her opening statement, highlighting that the visit showed a spirit of collaboration and not competition. “This mission will strengthen our bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in MSME development, the backbone of our economies,” she added.

The minister recognized how MSMEs drive African economies with 90% of the economic activities and the biggest employment source. The MSME sector is an important driver of full-time employment in Zimbabwe for an estimated 4.8 million people and accounts for in excess of 60% to the nation’s contribution of GDP, 56.4% of these enterprises being owned and operated by women.

Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted the fact that the mandate of her ministry did not only stop at MSMEs development but also included the promotion of gender equality and prevention of GBV. She said in its effort to provide a conducive environment for MSMEs, the government had continued to put in place several programs of support, including finance, market development, and business management training.

“We are working on developing MSMEs into formalised, competitive and export-oriented entities,” she said, adding that this is also in line with the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Policy Framework and the National Development Strategy, placing the growth of the sector at the core of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.

The delegation from Zambia will be taken on a tour of some of the MSME support organisations and other successful entrepreneurs during their visit in Zimbabwe. Minister Mutsvangwa assured them that a presentation on the operations of her ministry would shed more light on what they have been doing.

Also to be discussed will be revisiting some Memoranda of Understanding on Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Cooperatives Development, whose signing is slated for Thursday.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Mutsvangwa expressed confidence that the benchmarking visit would allow both countries to create mutual benefits through sharing success stories and best practices in MSME development.

This collaboration epitomizes the need for regional cooperation in ensuring improved economic growth and development, and this is most essential within the critical MSME sector.