Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) is an organisation that exists to represent retailers in the retail sector in Zimbabwe
About (CZR)
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers was established in November 2013. Before then there was no sector-wide representation for retail players and that untenable scenario culminated in the formation of the CZR. Upon establishment, the CZR answered distress calls especially from SMEs and relatively large retailers, united in bemoaning the absence of a genuine lobbying entity with the capacity and zeal to advance Zimbabwe’s retail sector. Equal to this mammoth task, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers is the biggest retail business representative board both by membership and voice as far as lobbying and advocacy on critical policy issues is concerned.
Mandate
The CZR Mandate includes:
- To promote ethical and transparent business practice within the retail sector.
- To be the voice of retail and wholesale in Zimbabwe through lobbying and advocacy.
Promotion of dialogue and maintain cordial relations with all retail stakeholders such as suppliers, customers and government.
- To register and coordinate activities of all retailers across the country regardless of size and location.
- Promote customer service Excellency within the retail sector.
The CZR has received full endorsement from government and had high-level meetings with the President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr. John Mangudya and Honourable Mike Bimha.
Areas of Interest
The CZR takes particular interest in the indigenous SME retail players long marginalized by lack of advocacy and lobbying for affirmative policies. Big brands, often foreign funded, have had an unchallenged advantage over local small to medium players with limited means for retail chain expansion and subsequent brand establishment. By lobbying on behalf of the voiceless, the CZR has secured a number of milestone concessions from the government in terms of policies aimed at fostering growth and development of local SMEs in the retail sector. With the whole nation in mind, the CZR works tirelessly to promote the adoption and expansion of technological advancement in the form of POS systems for small shop owners in rural areas. The CZR has a grand strategic plan to reach out to all the remote parts of Zimbabwe and work with various stakeholders to develop the SME retail players in those marginalized communities.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
The CZR in strategic partnership with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and various financial institutions, undertakes regular educational training programs across Zimbabwe. With a major focus on marginalized parts of the country, these outreach programs are designed to spearhead and in some cases augment government efforts to ensure that businesses and consumers fully embrace the use of non-cash transactions through the use of ‘plastic money.’ Through tireless lobbying and constructive engagement with the RBZ, the CZR has managed to urge the apex bank to expedite the supply of POS machines with swipe card facilities across Zimbabwe in both urban and rural areas.
