Empowerment lobby calls for Government action

Affirmative Action Group (Harare Charter) and Upfumi Kuvadiki said foreigners continued to take charge of areas that have been reserved for locals.
AAG president for Harare, Mr Lib­erty Bizure, said there was need for the Ministry of Youth Development,

Indigenisation and Empowerment to push for the implementation of the law.
“We urge the Ministry of Indigeni­sation to bring indigenisation to fruition by making it a reality through its implementation espe­cially in areas that have been reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans,” said Mr Bizure.
“If foreigners continue to operate in areas that have been reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans, they will be breaching the law.

“We also urge councils to stop giv­ing permits and licences to foreigners in areas that have been clearly stated by the law that they are for Zimbab­weans.”

Mr Bizure urged the Zimbabwe Investment Authority to respect the law by not giving licences to foreign­ers for reserved sectors.
In the event of failure to comply with the law, Mr Bizure said, they would approach the law enforcement agents for their help. Upfumi Kuvadiki president, Mr Scott Sakup­wanya, said there was need for the people to abide by the law.

“The Indigenisation law clearly states that there are areas that have been reserved for Zimbabweans but we continue to see foreigners coming to take control in those areas.

“We want the National Indigenisa­tion and Economic Empowerment Board to quickly move in to make sure the law is implemented in this area before it’s too late,” Mr Sakup­wanya said.
Government, he said, should immediately order local authorities to stop renewing operator’s licence for foreigners in areas that have been reserved for locals.

Youth Development, Indigenisa­tion and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, recently said Government had ordered all local authorities to stop renewing and issu­ing out new retail licences to foreign­ers.

According to the third schedule of Section 21 of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, retail and wholesale trade, agriculture, pri­mary production of food and cash crops, transportation, passenger buses, taxis and car hire services, bar­ber shops, hairdressing and beauty salons, employment and estate agen­cies, valet services, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco grading, packaging and processing, advertising agencies, milk processing, provision of local arts and craft, marketing and distri­bution are some of the sectors reserved for indigenous Zimbab­weans.

However, most such businesses in Harare, Bulawayo and other centres are dominated by Chinese, Nigerians, Congolese and Angolans among oth­ers.