Buy Zimbabwe conference starts today

ZIMBABWE today hosts its first "Buy Zimbabwe" conference, seeking to promote consumption of locally-produced goods and services in light of the influx of imports.
The event is structured as a promotional platform for different economic sectors to shift towards practical implementation of solutions to create value for local companies struggling to meet consumer demand due to the challenging economic environment.
The conference, running concurrently with an exhibition, is being held under the theme 'Going Beyond Words'. It will focus on growing Zimbabwe's local base while taking into consideration various regional trade pacts, such as Comesa Free Trade Area, to which the country is a signatory.
Among issues to be discussed would be how local companies could harmonise their operations and take advantage of the local and regional legislative environment to increase their market share. It is believed that consumers have shifted their taste towards foreign goods and services because local producers have failed to address their quality concerns.
The Reserve Bank Zimbabwe first mooted the Buy Zimbabwe initiative in 2005, although it fell by the way side due to serious shortages of local goods.
It was resuscitated last year by My Own Boss Ventures headed by Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere which then roped in various stakeholders including the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, with NicozDiamond chief executive Mrs Grace Muradzikwa coming in as the inaugural chairperson of the programme.
The conference comes at a time when most local manufacturers are struggling to satisfy the local market.
Zimbabwe currently imports most food items from neighbouring countries, particularly Botswana and South Africa, which are relatively cheaper than local products.
South African marketer and leading communication strategist, Ms Yvonne Johnston, is one of the external speakers who are expected to participate at the conference.
One of the organisers, Mr Robert Muganda said Ms Johnston is expected to craft a road map that will ensure that Buy Zimbabwe is a success and all participants understand the economic impact of buying locally.
"She would also be making five-minute appearances
at each of the cluster presentations to ensure that
all clusters benefit from her knowledge," said Mr Muganda.
Ms Johnston is highly regarded as the woman who
re-branded South Africa and conference delegates will be able to tap into her vast experience as a communicator. In 2009, she was invited to speak at Harvard, on changing the perceptions of the African Brand.
She now runs her own marketing consultancy business whose clients include Vodacom, Provincial Tourism Authorities, Financial Mail, GIBS Business School and Cape Town Tourism in South Africa. Ms Johnston was a finalist in the Businesswoman of the Year 2005 competition and was voted best local speaker and second best speaker overall at the Financial Mail Conference 2001 in South Africa.
Other key speakers lined up for the event include Buy Zimbabwe chairperson Mrs Grace Muradzikwa, TN Holdings group chief executive Mr Tawanda Nyambirai and the Industrial Development Corporation general manager Mr Mike Ndudzo.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Joseph Kanyekanye, director of Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Ms Rosemary Siyachitema and Marketing Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Godfrey Dube are among the speakers. Others include the Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Mike Bimha and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority commissioner general Mr Gershem Pasi and KM Financial Solutions chief financial architect Kenias Mafukidze.
The conference and campaign comes on the back of increasing reports that some of the imported products finding their way in to the country were hazardous to health.
Early this year a South African firm admitted to using brine to recycle chickens that were being imported and sold in the country.