adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Bill which is before Parliament exempts foreign firms from ceding shares to locals and does not bind the companies to the provisions of the Labour Act.
According to the SEZ Bill, provisions of the Labour Act and the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act do not apply to special economic zones.
In a report presented in the National Assembly, the chairperson of the Portfolio committee on finance and economic development, David Chapfika, said his committee supports the exemptions, even though some people had expressed reservations over them.
“The Bill seeks to exempt the application of the Labour and Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act. The stakeholders expressed reservations with the exemption of the two. They felt that this exemption contravened Section 65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which guarantees the rights of workers and that indigenous Zimbabweans should benefit from the establishment of the Special Economic Zones.
“In line with the practice in SEZs throughout the world, the committee recommends that the exemption should stand,” said Chapfika.
He said while the committee was of the view that it is a function of the SEZ Authority to declare, abolish or add any area or premises as a Special Economic Zone, there must be consultations before such action is taken in line with the country’s constitution which calls for the involvement of the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes in their areas.
Chapfika said other countries such as India and China have made significant economic breakthroughs by establishing SEZs.
“For example Shenzhen, Zhuwai and the coastal port cities have contributed significantly towards the success of the Chinese miracle,” he said.
Chapfika said there were strong representations during public hearings not to create a new SEZ Authority and Board, but to make amendments for the Zimbabwe Investment Authority to cover the SEZ Bill.
derick.khumalo