The ruling ZANU PF party has moved to ensure that foreign nationals are barred from operating businesses in the economic sub-sectors reserved for Zimbabwean citizens.
ZANU PF secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Mike Bimha said that the issue of reserved sectors was outlined in its revised Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.
He said the reserved sectors should benefit and be owned by Zimbabwean citizens only and those already owned by foreigners should partner and empower locals. Said Bimha:
The reserved sectors are only for Zimbabwean citizens and not for foreigners. Local authorities must stop issuing licenses to foreigners.
The reserved sectors include transport (passenger buses, taxis and car hire services), retailing, wholesaling, hair salons, advertising agencies, estate agencies, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco grading and packaging and artisanal mining.
Bimha also said foreign-owned businesses in reserved sectors were only allowed where firms would fund local production.
Local authorities were supposed to ensure that this aspect of the policy was enforced, Bimha asserted.