Nabilah Safira
TechInAfrica – Zimbabwean SMEs have operated under complicated conditions, as in having to deal with power cuts that span to 18 hours. Most entrepreneurs have their business affected, while some others choose the night shift to avoid the cut, usually from 10 PM to 5 AM. Another issue is the shortage of the dollar currency, which makes it impossible for some businesses to operate as they have to import products or purchase raw materials by the currency. The shortage was due to the reintroduce of the Zimbabwean dollar, making it the sole legal tender.
With the donation of 5 M worth machinery from India for Zimbabwe’s incubation projection, it had benefited the small and medium enterprises sector. The donation will upgrade a number of 16 technology and common facility centers across the country, and the equipment will be specifically useful for the fields of Tool and Die Making, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Plastic products manufacturing, as well as carpentry and metal fabrication.
The equipment was handed to Sithembiso Nyoni of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister on Monday. The Minister said it will benefit over 3000 SMEs annually since they will be able to hire the equipment used to manufacture their own products.
“This is most humbling considering that the equipment we are receiving today is coming to upgrade part of the 16 Technology and Common Facility Centers which were established through a Grant of USD 5 Mn which was extended to support the development of the SME sector in Zimbabwe in 2006,” Nyoni said, and added that the machinery project will allow Zimbabwe to manufacture molds, machine parts, tools, and components, some of which are currently still being imported from overseas.
Source: Weetracker.com
