Quicken implementation pace: Kuvarika

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries CEO Sekai Kuvarika (pictured) says turning policies into practical lessons will help the industry to achieve its goals  on course to becoming a middle income economy by 2030.

“We need to take an industrial transformation approach and raise the level of ambition and the pace of implementation in the next industrial trade policies. We have to practice  delayed  gratification while business invests in more capacity  and the government should reduce taxes and costs  to allow business room to become more competitive,” Kuvarika told Business Times.

“This also allows the industry to play a bigger role  in the regional and African markets which  are big markets  that will take more  volumes and bring back foreign currency to the country.

“We have to become the most competitive  place  to manufacture and we must do what it takes  to achieve that.”

Kuvarika said the manufacturing sector holds the future  for the people and the economy as it is the sector for everything.

“The sector has the biggest  job multiplier  potential as it  can move  the economy  up the value chain due to the production of high complex and high value products. This is the future of Zimbabwean growth and it is not allowed to fail,” she said.

The manufacturing sector contributes about 18% of the GDP. Kuvarika believes the sector could do a lot more if policies are implemented on time and challenges are addressed on time.

Since 2018, the economy has faced headwinds such as forex shortages, power cuts, viability challenges, market volatility and high cost of doing business. Industry captains have been meeting the government at the highest level to address these challenges.

“There is a step change in how the business can work together to deliver growth. I believe in economic growth between business and the government. We have come up with a concept we have called value chain/sector growth coalition approach which should unlock effective collaboration across the business  and policy ecosystem,” Kuvarika said.

She started her career in  social and economic development, then the private sector.

The executive has been at the helm of the country’s lobby group for two and half years.

She worked for Red Cross, SNV, Oxfam GB, Save the Children, the International Council of Swedish Industry and USAID and the Department for International Development programmes through Adam Smith International and Crown Agents USA.

Kuvarika said working for the industry has been an interesting, challenging and rewarding experience so far.

“I came to the confederation with zeal to support and lead a transformation process  to reposition for relevance, efficiency and legitimacy which is the cornerstone  of a  representative organisation,” the executive said, adding that she will be working towards growing the industry membership base, enhancing research and analysis capacity during her tenure.

Kuvarika has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology Honours Degree, a post graduate diploma in water supply Development and a Diploma  in Private Sector Growth Strategies.

“One of the challenges worth mentioning was really how to best maintain momentum while ensuring consultative processes do not eat up too much time at the risk of losing that momentum, particularly when it comes to the membership and governance structure review.

“The other challenge is the multiple fronts where the repositioning has to impact at the levels of relevance, legitimacy, credibility, influence and leadership in representing the collective interests of business.

“The best way to manage challenges is to adopt a collaborative approach with individuals and institutions that can contribute,” she said.

The executive said a solid robust and reputable industry and economic research unit that delivers what is needed by business and policy makers.

Kuvarika is inspired by an opportunity to do something new or solve problems.

“The opportunity to add value drives me, I find that the situation itself and the effort to address it usually leave me richer in many ways. It forces me to step out of my comfort zone and stretches me to go beyond the usual or everyday thinking,” she said.

An avid readers who follows short papers and articles, Kuvarika also listens to podcasts and  her sources are TedTalks, LinkedIn and Twitter.

She also follows McKinsey,  Havard Business Review and Kairos Futures, among others.

The executive is inspired by an African proverb: “Not everyone who chased a zebra caught one but everyone who caught a zebra chased one.”

One of Kuvarika’s best quotes is: “Not everyone who chased a zebra caught one but everyone who caught a zebra chased one,” which is an African Proverb.

This means that trying does not guarantee success but one  can never achieve success if he or she doesn’t try therefore just do it and not everyone loves new knowledge, people  embrace when they see it works, she said.

One of her favourite reads is Brene Brown The Power of Vulnerability where finds human lessons and insights internally empowering.

She also loves a quotation from Adam Grant which says, “Progress lies in the hands of the (few) people with the vision to imagine a better future and the courage to risk their popularity to achieve it.”

Kuvarika said that only those that  risk everything will achieve what they want in life

After leaving CZI, Kuvarika would want to go the consultancy and entrepreneur route.

Currently, Kuvarika does  not sit on any board.

During her free time she likes visiting places  with water and  trees  as her love  for nature is in abundance.

The vibrant  leader also likes making or blending teas and chillies cooking.