Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
THE Government is carrying out a study to determine the levels of participation of foreigners in sectors reserved for locals, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the Senate today.
The minister said this during the Senate’s question-and-answer session. The reserved sectors, according to Finance Act No.2 of 2024, include the retail sector, transport and logistics, hair dressing, barber shops, and pharmaceutical retailing, among others.
“The Ministry of Industry is carrying out a study to ascertain the extent to which locals have been crowded out in the reserved sectors, of course, using the whole of Government approach,” Minister Ziyambi said.
He said when the study is completed, it will inform whether there is a need to amend the law.
“Once the study is completed, it will inform areas we need to tighten the law, if any”.
Minister Ziyambi said retail outlets in downtown Harare, commonly known as “Kuma tuckshop”, were mostly owned by foreign nationals in contravention of the law, adding that the ongoing probe would also focus on the real estate sector.
“The other sector we are looking at is the real estate sector. We don’t want a situation where the majority of locals end up paying rentals to foreigners,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi also told the Senate that the Mines and Minerals Bill was now before Parliament and urged Senators to actively contribute to its debate.
“The old law was not enacted with the rights of indigenous Zimbabweans in mind,” Minister Ziyambi said.
“You could be easily removed from your land if a miner came. Now that the Bill is before Parliament, it’s an opportunity for you to have all your concerns taken on board”.
