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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has expressed concern over the increasing number of disused buildings and closed factories in Bulawayo and urged the Government to review property rights to ensure that such structures were put into productive use.Speaking during an executive meeting in Bulawayo last week, AAG president Dr Keith Guzha said the revival of Bulawayo companies must be supported by an enabling legal framework that will accelerate the growth of indigenous firms while maintaining viability of existing ones.
“We are worried about the increase in the number of disused buildings in the city centre. We wonder why the owners are keeping them empty when scores of indigenous businesses do not have operational space,” said Dr Guzha.
“We are also concerned about factories that have closed shop and we want to know what is happening. From our analysis, it seems most of the closed factories and disused buildings are owned by whites.
“We want the Government to interrogate this and probably review property rights with regards to this issue because they are not serving the interests of the people.
“A lot of office space is lying idle and we want the law to unlock it. We want Bulawayo to be resuscitated and people from this city should fight for this cause.”
Dr Guzha said his organisation was planning to hold a stakeholder symposium next week to mobilise the business community to lobby for the crafting of an enabling legislation that will promote investment in Bulawayo.
He said his organisation was working on compiling the list of disused buildings and closed companies, which would be presented during the planned meeting.
“We will be holding a business symposium here on 15 October to discuss this issue and look at ways of revamping Bulawayo. We heard the President’s call to revive this city’s industry and in doing that we want to start by addressing our weakest points,” he said.
“We want to know why we have failed and what each player needs to do to make things move. Banks should also play their role and business should be educated.
“Banking laws should be re-aligned to support Government programmes and this issue of collateral needs to be looked at. We believe if Bulawayo is restored to its former glory, the economy of this country would also grow.”
Dr Guzha said more funding must be channelled towards capacitating the small to medium enterprises, which have a quick turnover, in instead of big companies.
He urged businesses to work closely with the Government and put it to task over policies that it has put in place for implementation.
“After this symposium, there would be action in Bulawayo. Indigenous people are prepared to take over disused structures and put them into productive use. We will not sit back and watch things getting wrong.
“We will also fight for our space in the retail sector. The habit of having indigenous people being evicted in favour of foreigners such as Nigerians and Indians must stop. Local businesses must benefit from the sector as stipulated in the indigenisation laws,” said Dr Guzha.
Online Reporter