Buy Zimbabwe campaign officially launched

Stakeholders in business converged on the Africa Unity Square in Harare yesterday to commemorate the Buy Zimbabwe Day and encourage consumption of high-quality local products.

The buy Zimbabwe Day is designed to celebrate local brands which meet high quality standards, adhere to the country's labour laws and are produced in Zimbabwe as per the three principles that Buy Zimbabwe stands for.

Companies were given a platform to exhibit and showcase their products throughout the day.

The event also saw the unveiling of the unique Buy Zimbabwe insignia that would be the identifiable country of origin logo on local products that meet set criteria.

The Minister of State in Vice President Joice Mujuru's Office Sylvester Nguni said Government should establish an enabling policy environment that promotes local goods and services.

Minister Nguni indicated that the goods, wares and vehicles displayed at the event were a testimony that indeed Zimbabwean businesses are very aware of what is needed for them to become global giants.

He said that while efforts should be made to retain the stringent criteria of qualification to Buy Zimbabwe accreditation and promotional support, energies should also be exerted towards building aspirational companies.

He also added that consumers have been emphatic in underlying that Buy Zimbabwe should not be used as vehicle to promote substandard goods or services or become a call for an outdated, ill informed form of protectionism by local businesses who have failed to stand their ground against the best from the rest of the World.

Buy Zimbabwe should represent the best of what our country offers on domestic and international markets.

Speaking during the same occasion, Buy Zimbabwe acting chairperson and ZNCC president Mr Oswell Binha said the event was an important milestone and breakthrough following widespread consultations with various stakeholders in Government business and consumer bodies.

Mr Binha added that issues that have been raised by stakeholders were varied with consumers demanding that Zimbabwean products be competitive in terms of quality, price and accessibility.

The acting chairman said the Buy Zimbabwe mark, which was developed following a study of similar icons around the world, will only be used by products and services that meet certain conditions.

These include the fact that they should be of local origin, proven quality as determined by a recognised certification board, such as SAZ, UZ, etc, compliant with best labour practice and should environmental friendly.

He said as Buy Zimbabwe they were not calling for protectionism or bullying of consumers to buy sub-standard or more often expensive local goods and services.