via MPs want foreigners’ status clarified | The Herald November 6, 2013
LEGISLATORS want to engage the Government to establish why foreigners continue to participate in the reserved sectors of the economy which in terms of the law has been earmarked for indigenous people.
A parliamentary portfolio committee on Industry and Commerce expressed concern on the continued participation of foreigners, mainly Chinese and Nigerians, in the retail sector.
In an interview, Committee chairperson Cde Ray Kaukonde said it was important to ensure that indigenous enterprenours were protected as envisaged by the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act which listed sectors that should be reserved for locals.
“We still continue to see foreigners operating shops in the retail and wholesale industry,” he said. “We have the Chinese and Nigerians. We will soon engage the relevant authorities as a committee to find a solution that protects local people,” said Cde Kaukonde. In terms of the Act, some sectors have been reserved exclusively for indigenous Zimbabweans with a view to empowering them and also to curb capital flight out of Zimbabwe.
These sectors include agriculture, retail and wholesale, bakeries, barbershops, hairdressing, beauty salons, employment agencies, estate agencies, milling and transport.
Cde Kaukonde said his committee would engage Government on how confidence in the economy could be restored and maintained. “In Kenya, there is violence, but people always go there for business because they have confidence in that country,” he said. “That is what we want in Zimbabwe, we need to instil the confidence and court investors.
“In terms of investment let’s embrace everyone regardless of colour.”
Cde Kaukonde implored the Government to work closely with industry.
“That is where our salaries come from, so as a portfolio committee, we will work with industry to see how they can compliment Government efforts,” he said.
Last week, the committee met officils from Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and Zimtrade to have their reflections on what needs to be done to improve capacity utilisation.
COMMENTS
I think Cde Kaukonde is concentrating on the wrong methodology to solving economic development. Confidencehas already been restored in the economy, what lacks is indeginous inovativeness/invention. The minister should do well and study ‘Globalisation’ as a concept and the four factors affecting global competitiveness of nations. When a government devotes its efforts towards protecting locals from foreign competition, it is also stiffling its economic growth and national competitiveness. Protectionism is a sign of lack of innovativeness. The Chinese and Nigerians do not force their products on Zimbabweans, but they are demanded because of their quality and price. Even if Cde minister, you protect locals in those sectors, does that improve the quality and price of their products? Instead, globalisation exposes the domestic markets to variety of choice, and reduction of prices. Confine the citizens to protected products and you expose them to consumer exploitation , forcing daft but exhobitant products on them. Look at Willovale Mazda Motor Industries. What is the cost of producing one car off that assembly line? And what is the cost of importing the same car from Japan? So instead of protecting WMMI, Minister , you should be looking at ways of investing in cut-edge technology in WMMI that enables it to compete with Ex- Japanese cars. Same as reserved sectors-food, clothing, e.t.c. Last time I checked, the cost of a locally knit pri-school jersy was US6.00,The Chinese sell the same jersy-but better knit, and smart looking-at US2.00. Cde Kaukonde, which Jersy would you buy if you are not told of the supplier? Look into that before approaching government. We want you to be pertitioning government to promote domestic factors that increase global competitiveness of indegine industries, not to pertition gvt to bar quality, cheap global goods. Global competitiveness of Zim firms will increase GDP, livelihood, and national deveopment. Thank you.
Yours faithfully
Shame
For as long as we do not have our inventions, our own finished products that can truly compete in the global markets then we will always play second fiddle to fast developing nations. We may be driving an indeginous economy but without the proper funding for small scale businesses, and without any support structures for the informal traders, our economy will falter and opportunists with greater innovation will make the profits on our back yard.
Stop politicising issues and start solving economic issues on economic principles Mr Minister.
why are we so jelous of nigerians, leave them alone. They workhard giving employment to our people, brings us things cheaper. I bet go chek on spares n compare wit them. N how many r they? Less then 100 shops in whole country. Go check in cbd for yourself. 98% retail is locals.
Kaukonde wants to take what’s not his. He well known zanu master criminal and child rapist. Comrade scum vermin destined for the snakepit at our new chikurubi hotel