SMME sector played a significant role in the survival of the Zimbabwean Economy during the recession. Some scholars called it the development of the middlemen. The sector became so vibrant that bigger economic players relied heavily on them despite little or no support from government.
The minister of finance recognized the role of this sector and he, in the short term economic recovery programme, highlighted the need to give attention to this sector in areas of capacity building, funding, tooling and equipment among others. The fist half of sterp 1 was quite encouraging but it gradually lost its original momentum into sterp 2. Government has traditionally abused the sector budgetary allocations by financing rural house holds where there was perceived positive political mindset. The parent ministry has been hopeless. India donated equipment which has could help the micro players but has been highly politicized and mismanaged.
Minister Biti must realize the country has very credible, competent and organised SMME players who do not need any form of indegenisation legislation to support their activities but access to financial, technical and material support to grow their businesses.
Allow me to call on the minister to revisit sterp 2 and provide the much needed assistance and support through the normal banking institutions just as a token to energize this sector. I am confident poverty alleviation would have been achieved. Remember, some were rural SMME players who were destroyed by price controls. Government has a responsibility to ensure these businesses resurface. SEDCO is now a white elephant.

I remember in 1980 a government enforcing a Blacks only Advancement policy .This excluded all other races who were not deemed to be African. This was rascist then and caused a lot of animosity between the races. Thirty years later they are at it again . What is really going on .We all know of the previous regimes rascist ways but perpetuating the same today instead of trying to foster reconciliation for the good of the country is not on. We implore our Prime Minister to get on top of this very serious issue and fight it. We are all behind you .After all any legislation made by an illegal regime is null and void!