Although not
yet legally recognised, the move towards a 24-hour economy could represent a
significant shift for Zimbabwe, aligning its business operations with those of
developed nations where such models are fully operational.
Industries that
typically thrive in established 24-hour economies include logistics,
healthcare, hospitality, fast-food services, entertainment, leisure, and
technology, all of which benefit from greater operational flexibility and
improved customer service.
Speaking during
a panel discussion at the 4th Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON)
in Bulawayo yesterday, Professor Ncube highlighted the inefficiencies of the
current working culture and challenged the nation to rethink its approach to
economic activity.
“But also, I
think we have an eight-hour economy, don’t we? By 4.30pm, we are all going
home. We arrive at the office at 8am, take a two-hour lunch break. By 4.30pm,
we are going home,” he said.
Ncube pointed
out that significant amounts of electricity go unused during the night,
presenting an opportunity for expanded production and service delivery.
“We need a
24-hour economy. Overnight, there is more electricity because the households
are sleeping, so it’s actually more electricity,” he said.
He urged
stakeholders to consider models adopted by other countries that have
successfully implemented round-the-clock economic activity.
“So, again, we
need to be certain to have a 24-hour economy. Other countries are doing this,
why not us?” he added.
Recently, the
Ghanaian government announced plans to implement a 24-hour economy, aiming to
transform key sectors and unlock close to US$42 million in jobs. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment