Zim urged to invest in value addition to boost exports
Speaking at the COMESA market workshop facilitated by ZimTrade, Zimtrade Export Development Manager Tatenda Marume said that Zimbabwe needs to adopt value addition mechanism in order to enhancement our exports returns.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
According to Marume Zimbabwe’s export market was at its best in 1992 with base metals constituting 23 per cent of the total exports trading with countries such as the Netherlands, Brazil to mention a few who have soon vanished on Zimbabwe’s total exports in 2018.
Marume added saying that since 2009 Zimbabwe has been exporting raw minerals, which in actual sense has affected Zimbabwe’s exports returns negatively.
“The direction Zimbabwe has been moving in terms of exports is not so positive,” said Tatenda Marume.
The Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe has been urged to make use of Zimbabwe’s trade agreements with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
MMCZ was also advised to make use of Zimbabwe’s Bilateral trade agreements with countries such as Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana and avoid the over-emphasis of trading with South Africa because it would yield unpredictable trauma on the country if South Africa’s economy is not functioning well.
Speaking at the COMESA market workshop Zimtrade Director Mr Philip Phiri said also warned Zimbabwe of the dangers of focusing solely on South Africa in terms of exporting goods and services which he said is not healthy for the survival of the country.
“We need to be careful about how we target our markets if South Africa catches flue Zimbabwe is the one who sneezes,” said Phiri.