adminWhile efforts are being made to make Zimbabwe attractive for investment there are others, or is it the system, that is against this noble initiative. It has to be accepted that we are living in an age where the Western world has chosen not to see anything positive coming out of Zim and the challenge is upon us to turn those negatives into positives.
It is up to us to make the best out of what we have and aspire to achieve even much more. I received an email last week from a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Ezweni, who is now resident in South Africa and shared his frustrations over the way he has been treated by Zimra. His point basically is that why do we turn away people who want to bring business into the country through unnecessary bureaucratic roadblocks?
Here is his story:
“There is one challenge we have at home, especially when based out of the country and you want to take advantage of the access to capital we have out there and use it to invest back home.
“My major problem has been with Zimra. I will highlight one example. I spent two weeks in Zimbabwe registering a company to start a manufacturing business in Zimbabwe. I did all the paperwork necessary but there was one stumbling block. I wanted to register for tax and get a business partner number (BP number). Upon submission I was told I need to trade for three months before I could get that number. The lady refused to take my forms and said come back after three months. I returned to South Africa, organised capital and acquired the machinery.
“I transported the goods, and at the border, Zimra want a BP number, which in Harare they said I can only get after trading for three weeks. In the meantime my consignment has been stuck for three weeks at the border. In Harare they want me to trade for three months, I need the consignment at the border to achieve this and at the border they are saying the consignment will not be allowed in before I get the number from Harare. What a fuss!
“With this system, how do we invest back home? How do we return home when we can’t invest? If I was not Zimbabwean I would have given up but now I will have to fight on?”
Realistically, here is a problem that requires urgent attention and as they say, treat each case on its merits. The introduction of the one-stop shop at the Zimbabwe Investment Authority was meant to speed up the process of approving inward investments into the country and if they are nowhere in the equation, then we have a problem. Let me be clear here, I am not saying we should not follow laid-down procedures, but we should not frustrate those who are keen to do business with us.
Instead, let’s show the world what we are capable of and it will be up to them to decide what kind of people we are. Many a visitor who have come here have confessed that what they thought about us is not really the situation on the ground. Now why should we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot when we have the opportunity to show the best of what we have?
Come on guys, let’s do our best and show the world what we are capable of. Let’s not frustrate our colleagues whose intentions are clearly for the benefit of both parties.
Another issue that has been raising concern among the outsiders is our Internet adaptability. We are now living in a digital age and companies without functioning websites do so at their own peril.
Most companies have their websites either out of date or not up and running. In the world of business today, time is of the essence and no one has the time to wait in queues and it is up to us to adapt so that we can easily transact in the comfort of our offices or even on our mobile phones.
This is the way to go.
We cannot afford to do business in the old age, Internet banking has become the in-thing but some of the banks have yet to adapt to this.
I agree with Ezweni that we still have a long way to go in developing our economy.
As always, let’s make money.
Online Reporter