The Government has revealed that they saw covid-19 as an opportunity to increase local production as borders were closed at the outbreak of the pandemic.
Speaking at the Buy Zimbabwe 2021 Annual Awards that were held in the capital on Friday, Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr. Sekai Nzenza said the government’s relationship with Buy Zimbabwe was also strengthened.
“We saw covid-19 as a challenge but more importantly we saw it as an opportunity. Borders were closed and we later realised that we were increasing local production, we also began to look within ourselves to see how much capacity exists within Zimbabwe.
“Our relationship with Buy Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development became stronger to focus on local production. Increasing private sector growth requires collaboration and it also requires us as a government to listen and accept that in the past our policies were not so consistent but l want to say through the ease of doing business we are creating an enabling environment where business can thrive.
Dr. Nzenza added that the government is also hoping that the local industry will improve the quality of Zimbabwean goods to match global standards.
“So when we are talking of Buy Zimbabwe we are talking about the creation of jobs and jobs are being created through the companies we have seen here (at the awards). We are talking about creating wealth and we can’t deny the fact that we are making a profit. And l would like to thank you for the Corporate Social Responsibility that we see from a number of companies that we have seen here.
“So we are also looking at quality products that meet standards that are also competitive so that Zimbabwe will be at par with other countries,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mimosa scooped the Buy Zimbabwe 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Award for developing their host community and was the first runner-up in the Mining Company of the Year category which was won by Zimplats.
N. Richards Wholesalers scooped three awards, the Local Procurement Award of the Year, the Buy Zimbabwe Insignia of the Year, and the Enterprise Development Support Award of the Year. The company was also the 1st runner-up in the Wholesaler of The Year Award.
Below is the list of winners…
| 1. BUY ZIMBABWE NEW COMER OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER-UP SHEPCO BMA |
| 1st RUNNER-UP CANGROW |
| WINNER MAKA (PVT) LIMITED |
| 2.BUY ZIMBABWE FURNITURE RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| NOMINEES |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER-UP MAHOMED MUSA WHOLESALERS |
| 1st RUNNER-UP TEECHERZ HOME AND OFFICE |
| WINNER TV SALES AND HOME |
| 3. BUY ZIMBABWE QUALITY AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP DENDAIRY |
| 1st RUNNER –UP SCHWEPPES ZIMBABWE |
| WINNER NESTLE ZIMBABWE |
| 4. BUY ZIMBABWE LOCAL PROCUREMENT AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER-UP ZIMPLATS |
| 1st RUNNER-UP PROBRANDS |
| WINNER N RICHARDS WHOLESALERS |
| 5. BUY ZIMBABWE CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER-UP CBZ BANK |
| 1st RUNNER-UP NYARADZO FUNBERAL ASSURANCE COMPANY |
| WINNER TV SALES AND HOME |
| 6. BUY ZIMBABWE MINING COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER-UP FREDA REBECCA |
| 1st RUNNER-UP MIMOSA |
| WINNER ZIMPLATS |
| 7. BUY ZIMBABWE FARMERS SUPPORT AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP NATIONAL FOODS LIMITED |
| 1st RUNNER –UP BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO ZIMBABWE |
| WINNER PURE OIL INDUSTRIES |
| 8. BUY ZIMBABWE RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP BATA SHOE COMPANY |
| 1st RUNNER –UP OK ZIMBABWE |
| WINNER TM PICK AND PAY |
| 9. BUY ZIMBABWE SME OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP RADIO SOLUTIONS |
| 1st RUNNER –UP PETAL TISSUES |
| WINNER CLEAN-O |
| 10. BUY ZIMBABWE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP ECONET WIRELESS |
| 1st RUNNER –UP NYARADZO FUNERAL ASSURANCE COMPANY |
| WINNER MIMOSA |
| 11. BUY ZIMBABWE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP VARUN BEVERAGES |
| 1st RUNNER –UP ZIMPLATS |
| WINNER N RICHARDS WHOLESALERS |
| 12. BUY ZIMBABWE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (NON FMCG) AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP CAPRI APPLIANCES |
| 1st RUNNER –UP MAKA (PVT) LTD |
| WINNER CHLORIDE ZIMBABWE |
| 13.BUY ZIMBABWE WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP METRO PEECH WHOLESALERS |
| 1st RUNNER –UP N RICHARDS WHOLESALERS |
| WINNER GAIN CASH AND CARRY |
| 14.BUY BUY ZIMBABWE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – COME BACK OF THE YEAR AWARD |
| WINNER CENTRAL AFRICAN BATTERIES |
| 15. ZIMBABWE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR (NON FMCG) AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP KDV PILLOW TOP BED |
| 1st RUNNER –UP CAPRI 350 REFRIDGERATOR |
| WINNER EXIDE BATTERY |
| 16. BUY ZIMBABWE MOST IMPROVED MANUFACTURER AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP SILO FOODS INDUSTRIES |
| 1st RUNNER –UP INGWEBU BREWERIES |
| WINNER ASSOCIATED FOODS ZIMBABWE |
| 17. BUY ZIMBABWE INSIGNIA AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP CLEAN-O |
| 1st RUNNER –UP NESTLE ZIMBABWE |
| WINNER N RICHARDS WHOLESALERS |
| 18.BUY ZIMBABWE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (FMCG) AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP SCHWEPPES ZIMBABWE |
| 1st RUNNER –UP PROBRANDS |
| WINNER NATIONAL FOODS LIMITED |
| 19.BUY ZIMBABWE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR (FMCG) AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP KEFALOS YOGHURT |
| 1st RUNNER –UP PROTON COOKIES |
| WINNER MAZOE |
| 20.BUY ZIMBABWE BEST COMPANY AWARD |
| WINNERS |
| 2nd RUNNER –UP NESTLE ZIMBABWE |
| 1st RUNNER –UP PPC CEMENT |
| WINNER NATIONAL FOODS |