Handicraft conference on the cards

10 Feb, 2017 - 00:02 0 Views
Handicraft conference on the cards Minister Nyoni

The ManicaPost

Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
ZIMBABWE through the ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise and Cooperative Development will in June this year hold the Coordination Committee for the Development and Promotion of African Handicraft conference, a move that is set to boost the promotion of handicraft work in the country and transform livelihoods.
Minister of SMEs and Co-operative Development, Sithembiso Nyoni, revealed this on Monday at a local hotel during a four-day workshop which reviewed the ministry’s action plan for the promotion of sustainable growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises and cooperatives in Zimbabwe.

CODEPA comprises 25 African member states and is meant to promote the development and marketing of Handicraft in member states. Minister Nyoni is currently the vice-president and will be assuming the presidency this year.

“This development must transform to the success of our handicraft works. There is need to table strategies to promote handicraft so that people get income and transform livelihoods. Let us assist people in our communities in developing their products and programmes through proper strategic thinking.

The CODEPA secretary general is coming in June to discus the roadmap as part of the preparations for the conference. Resources should be mobilised on time and an implementation committee must be formed to that effect,” she said.

She said there was need to emulate India whose handicraft exports tremendously stood at US$4.5 billion between 2015-2015. Zimbabwe’s stone works is currently the best in the world.

The ministry is receiving equipment for leather and leather products and cotton processing industries under COMESA. The factories are to be set in Harare and Bulawayo.

“I want to see those machines being utilised as well and mechanisms should be put in place to ensure MSMEs access machinery and the machines are well maintained,” she added.

Minister of State for Manicaland provincial affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, whose speech was read on her behalf by Director Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa urged the ministry to devise sounding strategies to initiate and motivate SMEs and help resuscitate industry in Mutare.

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