Zimbabwe on Wednesday started
canvassing for stakeholder input into its national strategy for
implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which
will guide its participation in the continental grouping.

Speaking at the first consultative forum, Secretary for Foreign
Affairs James Manzou said the government realised that the AfCFTA
would not implement itself hence the consultations.

“As Government, we realised that the AfCFTA will not be
self-implementing either. We therefore decided to develop a national
strategy to implement the agreement,” he said.

Manzou said the government was aware of the challenges faced by the
manufacturing sector and understood the potential risks that come with
trade liberalisation.