THE Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has crafted an implementation plan for its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Russia’s GOST R over a year and a half ago, urging local businesses to adopt standards for global competitiveness.
GOST R is the Russian national body responsible for setting technical standards, quality requirements, and certification processes across industries.
It ensures products and services meet safety, reliability, and performance benchmarks, facilitating domestic compliance and international trade.
The MoU aims to facilitate trade between the two nations by harmonising standards. Zimbabwe imported goods worth US$39,65 million from Russia and exported merchandise valued at US$1,31 million last year.
The implementation plan was revealed to NewsDay Business by SAZ director-general Cosmus Mukoyi, on the sidelines of the World Standards Day breakfast meeting held in Harare last week.
“Following a thorough review of Zimbabwe’s laboratories, Gost R has committed to providing key equipment to enhance product testing capabilities, which will ultimately benefit local producers. The implementation plan includes specific training opportunities in Kigali, focusing on building the capacity of Zimbabwean staff and stakeholders involved in standards development,” Mukoyi said.
Keep Reading
- SRC engages marketing experts for Zim sport
- PNL teams clash in pre-season tourney
- News in depth: ‘We are drinking mercury’: Illegal gold mining exposes residents to poisoning
- Zimbabwe Beekeeping Project Conserves Forests and Boosts Rural Economy
“The partnership has outlined a three-year programme, beginning in 2025, that includes free training sessions on standardisation for Zimbabwean participants. The first training is scheduled for December 2025, during which Russian experts will engage with local technical committee members, fostering an environment for knowledge exchange and addressing key questions.”
He urged local businesses to embrace standardisation to enhance their competitiveness in global markets, following growing concerns over a lack of trust in the quality of products.
While Zimbabwe has established standards and thresholds that companies should meet in manufacturing goods, adherence to these standards is not universally mandatory across all sectors.
However, in other jurisdictions, there is a mandatory set of standards.
“The implementation of global standards, such as ISO (International Organisation of Standardisation) standards, is crucial for organisations aiming to access regional, continental, and international markets. Many local businesses in the country have successfully adopted these standards, enabling them to compete effectively on a global scale,” Mukoyi said.
“However, there are still numerous players, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have not implemented these standards on the basis that they are voluntary. This lack of adherence often leads to challenges in the acceptability of their products in foreign markets, hindering their growth potential.”
Why this is a challenge is that out of the 204 798 operational establishments, according to national statistics, 76,1% are informal, which includes SMEs.
“SAZ serves as the national standards board, providing strategic tools and resources tailored to various industries,” Mukoyi said.
“By implementing relevant national standards, businesses can build trust with international buyers, ensuring that their products meet safety and quality requirements. This trust is vital for consumers, as it assures them that the goods they purchase are produced in accordance with established standards, minimising safety risks and enhancing marketability.”
To assist with standardisation across industry, SAZ, in partnership with Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Association, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, launched a new language-based standard.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to ensure that language is not a barrier to the adoption of standards, as it covers English, Ndebele and Shona.
Mukoyi said sector-specific regulatory authorities were still not enforcing standards.
“This is where we now need interventions to encourage broader compliance,” he said.