'Bulawayo must pursue trade partnerships with Joburg'

BULAWAYO needs to look south of the country and into Johannesburg, one of South Africa's powerful cities in a trade partnership that can boost the city's economic status and possible revival of industries, the city mayor has said.

The city has always been tied to the South of Limpopo as seen by the heavy flow of people and goods from both ends.

Historically, locals have been making the trek down to South Africa, particularly Johannesburg (eGoli) for employment and business opportunities.

In turn, Johannesburg has taken advantage of that as seen by the presence of its goods in the local market.

In an interactive meeting on service delivery today in the council chambers, Bulawayo mayor, Martin Moyo suggested to Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ignatius Chombo, who was guest of honour that the city largely depended on Johannesburg for survival.

He noted Bulawayo was mostly a market for South African goods, due to the close links between these two cities, therefore there was a need for reciprocal trade which would catapult locally made goods to the South African market.

In that vein, Moyo said it would be advantageous for the Government to sign treaties with other neighbouring countries that can see the passage of local manufactured goods receiving a market in South Africa.

"These treaties can augment twinning arrangement the city is already a part of. We have these twinning arrangement for these purposes are already in the process of partnering with Polokwane and Francistown," he said.
 
The revival of industries would see less decongestion from streets to gainful employment."

Moyo also said increasing the points of entries in the country will ease movement and allow easier transportation of goods, resulting in more business opportunities and production.

"For example the congestion at the Beitbridge border, results in delays and opening or introducing another entry post might ease such challenges. For example the plane from Bulawayo to Johannesburg flys over Kezi and that is a possible route, we might take advantage of. The road from Bulawayo to Kezi is already in existence and requires some upgrading.

"The government can negotiate with Botswana and South Africa have a direct route and increase activity and business. We hope central government will facilitate this in the stimulation of industries to benefit Bulawayo and the country as a whole," the mayor explained.

Chombo noted these points and said he did not see a problem with facilitating these suggestions.

For example, he said it was well known the Beitbridge border was way congested.

"This is something, which Home Affairs Minister (Kembo) Mohadi is working on."

The local government minister said if the city council had these plans on paper, he was ready to sit down discuss and take resolutions.