Parly must hold Govt to account: Mudenda

CLOUDINE MATOLA

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, has called on the legislators to hold government to account over its own commitments to support domestic industry, warning that policy pronouncements must translate into measurable action.

His remarks come as government steps up the use of statutory instruments designed to promote local industrialisation and curb imports, part of a broader push to stimulate job creation and maximise value from Zimbabwe’s resource base.

Speaking at a recent Buy Local Conference in Harare, Mudenda challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to move beyond rhetoric and enforce strict oversight on public procurement systems to ensure they prioritise local industry.

“Parliament must therefore exercise vigilant oversight to ensure that all ministries, departments, and agencies of government honour local procurement policies,” Mudenda said.

“Portfolio committees must scrutinise government tenders with forensic exactitude and demand transparency in procurement processes.”

He underscored that Parliament’s constitutional mandate is central to sustaining the Buy Zimbabwe agenda beyond policy discussions and conferences.

“… what role should Parliament play in ensuring that the Buy Local campaign endures?” he asked.

“The answer is grounded in Section 119(3) of the Constitution, which clearly states that all institutions and agencies of the State are accountable to Parliament.”

Mudenda warned that government risks undermining its own credibility if it fails to lead by example.

“The government cannot credibly call upon citizens and the private sector to buy local if it does not lead by example,” he said, adding that the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe must set the standard.

Mudenda anchored his argument in the government’s own blueprint, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which mandates a defined quota for local procurement across ministries and state agencies.

“Government will require that a defined proportion of purchases by ministries, departments and agencies be sourced from certified local manufacturers,” he said, citing the policy framework.

“Parliament must therefore hold the Executive accountable for this commitment by tracking compliance, exposing deviation, and ensuring that every public tender advances rather than subverts the country’s industrial capacity.”

He highlighted practical examples such as the procurement of uniforms for security services and schools, arguing that such contracts could revive the cotton-to-clothing value chain and protect jobs.

Mudenda further linked industrial policy to Zimbabwe’s long-term economic ambitions under Vision 2030 Zimbabwe, warning against overreliance on imports.

Invoking both intellectual and political thought, he referenced Kenyan scholar Ngugi wa Thiong’o and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to emphasise the need for economic self-determination.

“An upper-middle-income economy by 2030 cannot be built on the back of other people’s industries,” Mudenda said, echoing President Mnangagwa’s stance.

“It must be built by Zimbabweans, for Zimbabweans, with Zimbabwean ingenuity.”

He argued that Zimbabwe’s challenge is not a lack of resources or talent, but a failure to identify, nurture and deploy its human capital effectively.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Thomas Utete Wushe, urged Zimbabweans to channel idle domestic capital into productive sectors, particularly manufacturing.

“We have approximately US$3 billion sitting in safes and mattresses,” Wushe said.

“The call is for Zimbabweans to invest that money into manufacturing and build industries that we can be proud of.”

He stressed that local investment is critical to reducing dependence on foreign capital and driving sustainable industrial growth.

Wushe revealed that government has introduced a reserved sector policy covering 21 industries exclusively earmarked for local participation, aimed at closing supply gaps and boosting domestic production.

“We cannot call for Buy Zimbabwe when there is nothing on the shelves,” he said.

“These reserved sectors create space for local businesses to produce goods that Zimbabweans can consume.”

He described the policy as a “game-changing manoeuvre” designed to empower indigenous entrepreneurs while strengthening the country’s manufacturing base.