MSMEs representatives successfully complete business training course

By Millicent Moyo

Sixty representatives from Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Matebeleland regions received certficates of completion after participating in a five day business training held by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday , the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Permanent Secretary , Mr Moses Mhike , said MSMEs have a pivotal role to play in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe by enhancing resilience and contribution to the achievement towards an Upper Middle Income Society.

“The main objective of this workshop is to train SMEs with a focus on women , youth , including people with disabilities to manage their business efficiently and become resilient in times of shock.

It is my hope that you will be able to find this business management training useful to your businesses and will transform your business operations when coupled with upcoming training and digital marketing.

Besides trainings the ministry is implementing a number of programs to improve access to markets , financing and workspaces to MSMEs among others “, said Mhike.

Mhike encouraged the MSMEs to pay tax in order to contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“I was listening to the majority of you i know we have had issues with ZIMRA but most of them are just perceptions. As a ministry what we have been trying to do is you will see us rolling a number of these programs were we are going to be including ZIMRA because we would want you to be tax compliant , as Zimbabweans you must contribute to the growth of the economy .

This is a deliberate move that we are going to be doing including PRAZ because we want you to be taking adavantage of procurement opporttunities in government “, he added.

UNDESA Chief National manager Strategies and Capacity Building Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals , Mr Amson Sibanda , said the workshop has provided concrete measures that will strengthen business management capacities and entrepreneurial skills that will support the resilience among MSMEs.

MSMEs attendees were drawn from Matebeleland North, Matebeleland South, Bulawayo and Midlands Provinces.