Editorial Comment: Indigenisation not an excuse to tarnish Harare’s image

is the face of Zimbabwe and what picture will we be sending out if lawlessness is allowed in the name of indigenisation? The city needs to send the correct message that business in Zimbabwe in general and Harare in particular, is conducted in an orderly manner.
In 2007, Government embarked on a programme to destroy illegal structures throughout urban areas across the country and people, including business people, must have learnt a lesson that illegal structures are not condoned in Zimbabwe.
Government did not just destroy the illegal structures. It went on to construct proper structures for conducting business at Siyaso and in Glen View to accommodate small businesses. It went further and constructed houses in almost all towns and cities throughout the country under the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle programme.
This just goes to show that proper ways have to be followed when one is putting up a business premise or a house. But over the past few years after Operation Murambatsvina, it looks like most towns and cities are slowly drifting back to the pre-2007 situation where every open space was taken up by illegal structures.
So brazen have been some business people that they have invaded Harare City Centre where they have occupied every available open space without council approval. Now there are allegations that some have been dealing with corrupt council officials who they give kick-backs so that they turn a blind eye on the illegal operations.
They easily hide behind the name of indigenisation and economic empowerment as if this noble Government programme is meant to promote lawlessness and illegal activities. The Harare City Council authorities should therefore go all-out and descent on illegal structures in the city disguised as car sales, illicit vendors and hawkers that have invaded the city and do have respect for council by-laws. The message must be made loud and clear that there are council by-laws and national laws to be followed. We cannot have a situation whereby people ignore council by-laws in the name of indigenisation. In fact, such business people who are accusing the council of thwarting indigenisation must be ashamed of themselves. They must be charged for bringing the good name of indigenisation and economic empowerment into disrepute.
Indigenisation does not mean people must not follow laws and laid down procedures. The Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatious Chombo was spot on last week when he said people interested in selling cars should conduct that business on designated sites and pay rentals to council.
He rightly pointed out that the current situation in which all road sides or thoroughfares leading in and out of the city have been converted into car sakes is unsightly.
Surely, such a situation cannot be allowed to continue. There must be order in the city and indigenous business people worth their salt know that they must register and pay rentals to council in order to conduct business in the city.
Harare has gone out of its way to accommodate business people and vendors at designated areas in the city. Yet illegal business activities are taking place in most buildings in the city and vendors even have the guts to sell their wares in front of supermarkets and shops which pay licences to council. Ximex Mall is just a good example of chaos in the centre of Harare and the sooner the situation if rectified, the better for the city and its residents.
If such lawlessness is allowed to continue in Harare unabated, we wonder what the city would look like in 10 years.
There must be order in the way business is conducted in the country’s urban areas. Indigenisation is not a licence to engage in illegal business activities.