Forum brings together state and private sector

A forum to improve communication between the Zimbabwean government and business has been established by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra). The forum is a collective of partnerships between Zimra and different business segments. It includes “partnership with banks for the collection of revenue, partnership with economic associations through liaison activities, and partnerships with the private sector through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs),” according to a Zimra statement at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU). “The MoU aims to bring Zimra and the business community onto a platform where business and the authority are able to interact and improve working relationships to promote national economic development and exchange of ideas on issues of mutual interest,” continues the statement. Business was represented at the signing by seven clusters, namely trade facilitation, finance and insurance, industry and commerce, mining and agriculture, small and medium enterprises, information technology, telecommunications, and academia. The trade facilitation cluster is represented by Joseph Musariri, the chief executive officer for the Shipping & Forwarding Agents’ Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ). He says the partnerships will be instrumental in shaping the way Zimbabwe conducts its business. SFAAZ has been working closely with Zimra to address a number of challenges facing the shipping and forwarding sector, he told FTW.