Tendai Charumbira
Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 cannot be easily attained without external support to completely reduce the debts that Zimbabwe is owing to international finance institutions like International Monetary Funds (IMF), the business community has reiterated.
Addressing delegates at Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) hosted Zimbabwe Public Debt indaba held at Rainbow Towers in Harare Confedaration of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Kurai Macheza said government’s aim to achieve Vision 2030 will not be easy without intervention of external forces to help in the eradication of debts owed to the IMF which are choking most businesses.
“Government’s aim to achieve Vision 2030 cannot be easily attained without intervention of external forces. From us as Zimbabwean business people, we have a serious worry over the $3.3 billion alluded to the assumption of the creditors debt that is owed, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) was supposed to pay the creditors. Without that settlement being done, it chocks our businesses.
“Until debt is cleared, it cripples business and there is urgent need for government to clear such debts so creditors will not see the name of company recurring in their books,” said Macheza.
He also urged government to consider roping in external partners if any meaningful progress towards such a vision is to be realized and also the proliferation of punitive rates that is interest rates grows back business.
“Government should consider roping in partners for meaningful progress towards such visions to work out. Proliferation of punitive rates grows back our businesses and they incapacitate business growth,” said Macheza.
Macheza however said business community and CZI appreciated the progress made so far in terms of country positions and state of debt of the country as well as payments being made.
“From the business community and CZI, we note and have to appreciate some of the progress made so far in terms of communicating and also the efforts made with certain payments being done,” he said.
