via Bulawayo firm threatened with closure under indigenisation | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu on Monday, May 19, 2014
The controversial indigenisation regulations, which say foreign investors should cede 51 percent of their businesses to locals, could soon claim their first victim after a leading Bulawayo fast food outlet was given seven days to comply with the law.
The National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board on Friday threatened to shut down Golden Grill if it does not comply with the directive. But indigenisation minister Francis Nhema told the Southern Eye newspaper that he did not know anything about the move.
However the news angered the Bulawayo business community and labor groups, who said shutting down Golden Grill would be tantamount to ‘sabotage.’ The Association for Business in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union led the condemnation of the directive, saying it would be wrong to close the firm in a city which is already experiencing high levels of unemployment due to company closures.
This development comes at a time when several government officials, including finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, have been indicating that they may be having second thoughts about the much derided law.
ZCTU secretary general Japhet Moyo said the threat to shut down Golden Grill will ‘send a wrong signal to other companies and no one will come because there is no clarity on the indigenisation policy.’
According to the law, investment in sectors such as grain milling, bakeries, local transportation and fast food out lets are reserved for locals. Golden Grill, which employs about 100 people in its three outlets, is owned by Paul Evans who as a white person is considered under the controversial law not to be indigenous enough.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Lionel Saungweme said he knows Evans to be a ‘committed local businessman.’ He added: ‘I have spoken to many local opinion leaders, including economist Eric Bloch, and they all feel that it is wrong to have a law that prohibits somebody from achieving their dreams on the basis of colour.’
The indigenisation law has been heavily criticized by many Zimbabwe watchers who feel that it not investor friendly.
The extent of global concern over the controversial law was revealed a few weeks ago when former South African president Thabo Mbeki visited President Mugabe to discuss the issue. Reports said Mbeki had been sent by concerned South African business men who want the law toned down.
COMMENTS
He is not white…..he is a brown mun…….Thats why they say NEVER in a 1000 years…………..
Some one want’s to”MLISWA” this company.
MLISWA THE COMPANY love it. Well said Dube.
Do not be fooled by different statements from various ministers who just want to mislead the public.If they really wanted to have this policy on indigenisation amended they would have done it already but they do not want to change it ,therefore its there to stay and be implemented with its serious evil results.Its a pity that it went through parliamentary approval when the opposition we trusted so much allowed it to pass through without amendments.
I know of one Black owned company they wanted to indigenise.I f you are running a lucrative business they will come for you. Zanu is evil. They are out there to loot . There is no honour.
The next thing we are going to hear that Masiiwa is brown and not black ,so he must sell 51% to Cde Chinotimba kuti zviite. Nonsense,
You just don’t have what it means to be human ma Zanu. Shame
Looks like indeginizatioo is giving 51% to zpf top officials (as opposed to zim nationals). Our black businessman must watch.
yessss a greedy top person has seen this business thrive and has been licking their lips and salivating like a Pavlov dog for it. They go in on the pretext of indegenisation, a concept whose meaning is so cloudy and so changeable no one knows what this animal really is!!!
They will take over and run it into the ground as they have done many others before.
Meanwhile RGM will be enjoying Singaporian cuisine.
this has been targeted by Mashaba the Zanupf provincial looter!
Zanu indigenised the farms and now we are importing maize from Zambia and Malawi grown by the same farmers we displaced.
Paul Evans is Not White. He is “coloured”, Mukarati, umzukulu, um ta ga sisiwethu, chose whatever derrogatory term you wish to apply to people of mixed race.
In fact, knowing Paul, he could propbaly speak isiNdebele better than the said “Mashaba”.
This is what happens when “strangers” rule our Province, they bring chaos.
Hands off our brother Paul. Go and work hard for a change.
This is what the W and the UN must be reminded of. In this time of enlightenment how can anybody allow discrimination of any sort. Brown and
Hear Hear Hear Hear Hands Off Paul go and work hard for a change!
This is what the What the world and the UN must be reminded of. In this time of enlightenment how can anybody allow discrimination of any sort. Brown and White Zimbabweans must be afforded the same rights as anybody else. Why do these foolish politicians want to Punish people for the sins of their fore fathers. Let he who has no sin cast the first stone….
It is not about punishing anybody good people. This is about greedy envious people,when there are no more white and mixed people to rob they will turn on each other.
Let the World know what is the reality on the ground. No Investment and Zanu PF will disintegrate before long! If the opposition would stop infighting and just let the people really know why there is no food and soon to be no fast food or jobs then they might get wise and rid themselves of this cancer.
100% right as usual Jrr56!
This is all rubbish. these people have came up with statutes to hide behind the looting, robing and stealing. to the so called “non indigenous” they use indigenization laws which they crafted, to the locals; you try to do something they also come putting on the uniform of statutory levies. they will not leave you until you close up your business.
during the liberation war era, I was a mjiba and we used to sing this song asking Smith why he would come to my rural home which I built on my own and make me pay a levy yet this is my father’s land. come independence we were happy that we were free, little did we knew that we were going to be worse under our own so called black skin rule.
I started my own business in 2003 from my personal savings and benefits which I got from my former employer. when the business started to grow they came in. almost every ministry (not talking of ministry of finance – zimra with its numerous taxes) they will also come with different levies, licences and penalties; even home affairs ministry – the police. 2010 I managed to buy a company which was manufacturing auto mobile springs and started another line of business but they sharpened their teeth more and in 2years time everything was closed down leaving my original business in a deplorable state. they are still coming though coz they say I owe them. at one time had about 25 workers and now we are only 3 left struggling though to make ends meet.
when I asked for support from the same gvt. which milked me until blood started oozing out instead of milk they refused. look how filthy rich they are, yet they still want some more. when I also asked for a piece of land during the so called land redistribution era they asked me if I were a war vet or a soldier or in police force or in any uniformed force. although I was a mjiba my request was turned down. yet they used us during the war, we were their source of information against the enemy. not only that samba rehove ririmumvura. we provided them with food, we killed our live stocks coz they want mufushwa, munyevi nomuboora. as if it was not enough our sisters and unties, we left with another burden of up keeping their children.
Now they take themselves very special species from every other human being, look how they took every lucrative farm to themselves, every farm house and of recent the Save conservative in my home province, the sugar plantations even the Tokwe Mukosi Commercial plots; its all them or someone whom they make a front.
they are after accumulating every wealth to themselves under what circumstances.
I can bet you, this Evans guy is actually by far more committed to the success of Zimbabwe and its economy than gukurahundi Mugabe and his praise singers can ever dream of!!
People should learn to start their own business and leave others alone. It is about time this lazy grab mentality stopped. We are sick and tired of this nonsense!!
Indigenisation is hurting the ordinary person on the street than chefs
So the mixed race people are also being targeted in this so called indigenisation policy which in real terms is about looting
in other words if your business is doing well the CHEFS will take it if they fancy it and use the indigenisation policy as an excuse to take over someones company ??
WELL DONE to the local opinion leaders including Eric Bloch for saying that it is wrong to have a law that prohibits somebody from achieving their dreams on the basis of colour.’
and the INDIGENISATION MINISTER Francis Nhema claims he is not aware of the move -how does he not know what is happening when he is the Idingenisation Minister?
“it is wrong to have a law that prohibits somebody from achieving their dreams on the basis of colour.’
Hear hear hear everyone rally behind local opinion Leaders, Mr. Eric Bloch and Paul Evans
Your businesses could be the next in line for a grab by these Blued Eyed Boys of RGM