Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Mugabe Wants More Business

Home Archived Mugabe Wants More Business

By Mbatjiua Ngavirue WINDHOEK President Robert Mugabe has challenged both the Namibian and Zimbabwean business communities to be more forthright and aggressive in promoting business between the two countries. He said they should take advantage of the existing framework of agreements between the two countries to develop more business. “My government, through the relevant line ministries and institutions, will give you all the support you need,” he promised. Mugabe issued this challenge at what organisers billed a working dinner with the business community at a Windhoek hotel on Wednesday night. He felt one could not over-emphasise the fact that many opportunities for greater cooperation between Zimbabwe and Namibia in both trade and investment remain untapped. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement signed in 1992 that aims to enhance the competitiveness of both countries’ products in each other’s markets. He was aware that negotiations were currently underway to introduce certain amendments to the trade agreement, aimed at broadening the scope of bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and Namibia. Total trade between Zimbabwe and Namibia has continued to grow over the past five years. It grew by 18,1 percent from US$19,327,847 in 2000 to over US$22 million in 2003. “You will agree with me that these figures can easily be surpassed if only we can develop closer business networks,” he argued. Over the past decade, his government has vigorously pursued economic policies aimed at liberalising the economy and promoting investment. “Major economic reforms have been undertaken with a view to creating an enabling environment conducive to both domestic and foreign investment,” he noted. The working dinner was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI). The large group of businesspeople attending the dinner included a significant number in Namibia as part of Mugabe’s delegation, under the auspices of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC). Mugabe proved to be an engaging and entertaining speaker who had his audience spellbound throughout his speech. For a man of 83, he possesses exceptional mental sharpness, and the charm and wit he displayed is somewhat at odds with the picture of an ogre people have come to know. He even made a joke at the expense of his old friend and colleague, former Namibian president Dr Sam Nujoma, remarking on Nujoma’s keen interest in geology. “He is very fond of stones. So much so that I didn’t realise that when he left office he would want to study stones himself,” Mugabe affectionately joked.