Story by Patience Nyagato
PLANS to revive the country’s leather industry are afoot with government strengthening its systems to revitalise the leather value chain.
This came out at the August House during the Parliamentary Question and Answer session this Wednesday.
“I spoke of a collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture among other ministries. I highlighted that we have not done as much as we want in our leather sector. We will be working with rural communities to create a system where leather will be produced. Bata is on its recovery path,” Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu said.
“We are trying to make sure we expand the domestic market, and we are expanding to export to other countries, including Zambia. Government departments have been directed to make local purchases, which will also help expand the leather industry,” he added.
It also came to light that the country is keeping abreast with current trends and technological advancements after introducing automated border control systems at various ports of entry to increase security and reduce smuggling cases.
“We have done a lot in deploying technology at airport and border technology. We have tried to computerise all our systems and the online border management systems, and we now have e-gates without the help of any officer. We have deployed this at Victoria Falls and Beitbridge. Now e-visas are available, and we have started embarking on this journey,” the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe said.
The reintegration of prisoners into society also came under the spotlight.
“We want to realign our laws with the new thinking of trying to reintegrate those who have been in incarceration so that society and workplace can accept them,” Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi said.
Parliament also discussed efforts by the government to restore sanity to the PSMAS medical aid facility for the benefit of millions of civil servant subscribers.
