GOVERNMENT has ordered local authorities to stop granting business licences to foreigners interested in sectors reserved for indigenous entrepreneurs.
Source: Govt order local authorities to deny foreigners licences – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 1, 2017
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha told Senate last week that government continues to note with concern the continued issuance of licences to foreigners by local authorities to operate businesses in sectors reserved for locals.
“We agree that we have some foreigners, who come into the country and, instead of going to Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA), they go to local authorities and ask for permission to do some business. The local authorities, because they want money, will allocate these people some businesses, which they have to embark on because they want to benefit through taxes,” he said.
“We are calling for the local authorities to enforce this idea of separation of business industries from those reserved for Zimbabweans and for foreigners.
“When we are talking of reserved areas for indigenous people and foreigners, it really exists, is self-explanatory and very clear. We may have a problem in policing the implementation of it because we have set out some areas, which we have said, these industries can only be operated by people of Zimbabwe such as small industries like the salons and food outlets.”
The reserved sectors include primary production of food and cash crops, transportation business involving passenger buses, taxis and car hire services, hair dressing and beauty salons.
They also include employment agencies, estate agencies, grain milling, tobacco processing, advertising agencies and milk processing.
COMMENTS
The corrupt people in this chain of events is the Council personnel and the Chinese clients.
This govt is full of importance no one in the world wants to come to Zimbabwe, if I were in charge at this,rate I would issue licenses for free. The country is a rubbish dump.
They do the same in other countries.if you dont have citizenship or permanent residence or not granted asylum you are not allowed to establish a business.if you are a student you are only allowed to work 10 hours a week in other countries.if you are a visitor in another country you are not allowed to work or receive public funds.if you dont have papers you are not allowed to work.if you dont have papers you are not allowed to open a bank account.if you dont have papers you are not allowed housing.if you dont have papers your employer can be fined a lot of money for employing you.if you dont have papers your landlord can be fined for giving you accomodation.life is not easy in some foreign countries.when are government is not issuing licences to foreigners they want their citizens to have opportunities first.the foreigners must have appropriate visas or citizenship to open businesses in zimbabwe.that is the same they do in other countries.the government must make sure they pay their taxes.the same as they do in other countries.if a foreigner wants to work they must have a work permit.the same as they do in other countries.they do all this to make sure their citizens have opportunities first.life is not easy in a foreign country you have to earn the right to live in a foreign country.if you are an illegal immigrant they kick you out.