Zimbabwe sets June deadline for improved business climate

THE Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Dr Misheck Sibanda, says the Government will by June have promulgated about 13 laws to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The Government is crafting a number of measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business to attract foreign direct investment. Speaking during a cocktail organised by his office at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, Dr Sibanda said the legislative reforms would include a Public Procurement Bill.

"We've 13 pieces of legislation that have gone through Cabinet, which we hope will be promulgated by June and this will see Zimbabwe improving on the ease of doing business index.

"The ease of doing business reforms also include public procurement reform geared at transforming the State Procurement Board into a regulatory authority, with procurement of goods and services being centralised to ministries, departments and agencies," he said.

He said despite financial challenges faced by the Government, it had been deemed important for the OPC to exhibit at the ZITF 2016 edition to publicise the reforms taking place. The success of the reforms, he said, would be measured by the extent of their impact on investment and the livelihoods of citizens.

"In this regard, the office undertook the coordination of the implementation of various Government reforms, specifically the ease of doing business reforms. This is a response to the directive given to Government by the President to reform the business environment. This is in conformity with the accelerated implementation of Zim-Asset and the 10-Point Plan in order to promote growth of our economy," said Dr Sibanda.

He said the ease of doing business reforms were being implemented based on thematic areas over a 100-day cycle underpinned by the rapid results ap- proach. The five thematic working groups are constituted as follows: Starting a business and protecting minority investors, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency, getting credit, paying taxes and trading across borders, and construction permits and registering property.

"Our aim is to make Zimbabwe great by working together with other partners," said Dr Sibanda.