Retail Sector In Zimbabwe Overrun By Foreign Nationals
2 months agoFri, 17 Jan 2025 08:52:47 GMT
Foreign nationals from China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and other countries are reportedly dominating Zimbabwe’s retail sector, pushing local, bona fide retail outlets out of business.
These foreign nationals are also accused of selling counterfeit products and operating without proper licenses.
Major retail chains such as OK Zimbabwe, Spar, and TM Pick n Pay are struggling, allegedly due to the growing presence of makeshift shops primarily run by foreign nationals in Harare’s downtown and various suburbs.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20 of 2013 prohibits foreign nationals from owning or operating retail shops, reserving these rights exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raji Modi told Business Times that some retail outlets operated by foreign nationals in Zimbabwe violate the law. Said Modi:
We have a problem with foreign nationals from the region operating our local retail shops and it is not only them, there are the Chinese also who are in the retail sector because they are not supposed to be doing so, the retail sector is only reserved for Zimbabwean citizens.
Unfortunately, they are using our local Zimbabwean names or workers’ names to obtain licenses and they are doing it illegally.
Modi said the Ministry has engaged relevant authorities, including ZIMRA, to develop a strategy for addressing the illegal operations in the retail sector, which are having a significant negative impact on the country’s economy.
Former ZANU PF Harare provincial political commissar who once served as Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe said:
At least 90% of these tuckshops are owned by foreign nationals. They have destroyed all the big supermarkets in our country. OK Zimbabwe is seriously struggling as the biggest employer in the grocery retail business.
In these tuck-shops, our local brothers and sisters are used as loaders and other menial work. These people don’t pay tax and the question is who is protecting these people?
I am not xenophobic and I will never be one but we cannot destroy what we have, our brothers must follow our laws.
Foreign-owned tuckshops are reportedly conducting transactions primarily in United States dollars, deliberately avoiding the use of the local currency, the ZiG.
Meanwhile, a senior government official, speaking to Business Times, claimed that many refugees, reportedly fleeing Tongogara Camp in Manicaland Province, have flooded the streets of Harare, where they are allegedly engaged in money laundering activities.
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72 Comments
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Statistics of this news is wrong...most of the shops in Zimbabwe are owned and run by Native Zimbabweans...and that is good...coz everyone deserves to move forward in life...infact foreign owned businesses in Zimbabwe are cashing out and conducting business in the neighbouring countries coz the neighbouring countries still have a system and stable economy....also the tuck shops that are selling the groceries are actually buying the groceries from government officials which are importing in bulk and not paying taxes and all....
Anonymous · 2 months ago
What is the informal retailer offering to the customers which the big retailers cannot offer? Secondly let's take out the word foreign national and replace it with" locals " then let's say that's the case, was the reaction going to be the same??? Then whats the logical solution?
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Here comes the agent's of monopoly-capitalist! After using their goons in South Africa, their focus is now on Zimbabweans and the Deputy minister Modi is doing their bidding at a fraction to cause disaffection between African traders in Zim and the locals.
Zimbabwe must adopt a free market economy where the forces of competition determines the prices of goods and services as against the protection of big retailers whose aim is to maximize profits.
Foreigners indeed, but the big retailers are not Foreigners only the tuck-shop
Anonimus · 2 months ago
U guys stop all this noise ko wamborikusda nemachina ndiwanani arikubhadhara tax here machinese. Iwo wabati wezvigaro ndombavha dzekupedzisira dzakanyanya hove dzemugunwa
Tapfuma · 2 months ago
Those shops are owned by us Zimbabweans and we sell in USD bcz Zig doesnt buy anything and thr gvt also trade in USD so stop trying to divert the attention Zanu has killed the economy
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
Please chase them there in Zimbabwe my brothers we are doing that here in south Africa they will not have a place to run to but get back to countries this terrorist and we want both our economy back in our hands. They destroyed their own...!
Anonymous · 2 months ago
C'mon man. You want to tell me the chinese people have destroyed China.? Or Tanzanians have destroyed Tanzania.? Have you been to these countries lately.? Maybe Congo but Tanzania and China are far ahead of Zim in terms of Development
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
Bro wich south africa you talking about ?
1Anonymous · 2 months ago
Even pick n pay is foreign owned but the cry is that these businesses are owned by foreign Africans
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
Yes BUT! Pick ‘n Pay pay for their trading license, run by and employ Zimbabweans, pay taxes develop the economy!
Karen · 2 months ago
This is what most of the supporters of these foreigners dont understand. They just dont pay tax
Xx · 2 months ago
@Anonymous you can say that again,go to the light industrial site in Harare it's always packed with shoppers,some coming from the rurals all over Zim.Asina kitchen yakazara irombe kkkkkkk
Naks · 2 months ago
Vanhu ivavo ndovari kuita Zimbabwe inyanye kutambura especially retail sector they fakof vese masomalians ese aya ari everywhere down town mbare mese muya any tuckshop ine masomalians and using usd. Ngavachimbo buda tiitewo isu mabusiness acho and mari they don't bank fakol dzinogara mumashop imomo mari dzacho manje toti tiri kuendepi
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X · 2 months ago
Your rhetoric is quite dull. There is no verve and its open ended. They just have to go!
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
The minister should first tell the nation that why are they sub-dividing the buildings and charge exorbitant rentals ..The Indians nationals know for sure that the local people (Zimbos )will not afford ,therefore they target these foreign nationals to occupy their buildings.
Secondly the minister should also tell the nation where does these foreign nationals bank their money including his friends the Indians?
Most of these foreign nationals refuse to trade with our local currency and they don't issue receipts as a way of avoiding paying Tax.
X · 2 months ago
What doesn't make sense is that you dont see anything wrong with foreigners taking your cake. This is wild! I had no idea Zimbabweans were this dull and docile. They just have to go!
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Is OK.TM and several big store local? I went into OK store to buy coke and it was dollar for 2. While I stood there with disbelief some told me to go to a tuck shop behind OK selling coke dollar for 4. Tell me what does that mean to me. Let these the big store go. We are now in charge of our destin. What do you want us to do. People have no jobs. Leave foreigners alone. Our children perish in mines in foreign lands.
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Pamberi nema China tanga tabaiwa neku dhurigwa. Nokia was too expensive to own. We bought econet card for 2 herds of cattle. Now tell me what is wrong with Chinese solar panels, solar pumps, grinding mills all now affordable. China changed Zimbabwe no one goes barefooted, no one buys second hand clothes. The Chinese sell things cheap. People try to force them to push prices up but can't be influenced by these evil men. Just look around you man everything is Chinese, roofing, paint solar street lamps all solar. CCTV now affordable to all. Ukabvisa machaina tinosaratika safa kudhurigwa nama Zimbabwean
Anonymous · 2 months ago
But this foreign national of a minister is pointing fingers but forgetting about his own Indians doing the same as he does at his shops. You don't have to ask people what they are paid you can see how a person works when they are been paid peanuts. I've been to his shops even when Bellevue shop was small before the renovations and his workers look dejected and the way they dress also shows poverty. He gives them mealie meal and now wants to be xenophobic yet how many zimbos are doing the same in SA, worse almost weekly we read about zimbos been arrested for robberies or murder.
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1Anonymous · 2 months ago
Hi dear simple ❓ for an example ur profit margin 20% before deduction how much u will pay ur employee
X · 2 months ago
Xenophobia is just a term globalists use to ruin borders and promote global elite capital to come and buy up resources and manpower at a low cost. We are seeing an upending of the Zimbabwean people by foreigners. This kind of docility should not be allowed. Zimbabwe you just need to wake up and start being proud of your country.
Anonymous · 2 months ago
You talk small staff like Tuck-shops, this is just childish cry. Why not talk about the huge side of with the Chinas mining looting all the Gold with the top Government officials. Just admit that the whole system of Zimbabwe is rotten.
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Tee · 2 months ago
You can say that again
Peter · 2 months ago
What about the Zimbabweans doing business in SA ,zambia and other neighbouring countries.
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X · 2 months ago
Whataboutism! They can do whatever they want as long as they follow law and regulation in that country. It is that simple. Your rhetoric promotes anarchy
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Millions of Zimbabweans are doing the same in RSA.
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
It's so funny they are complaining about foreign nationals running tuckshops what about Chinese who have been looting Zim minerals for many years and causing land degradation in the rural areas. These people they play too much. Your talk is cheap
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
Specifically the retail. Mining, manufacturing, transport are open for e eryone but retail no. This is what the minister is saying. Open your eyes, unowanza bronco.
Noma · 2 months ago
Funny because Modi himself is a naturalized foreigner who married into a Zimbabwean Indian family 😂😂
1Manue · 2 months ago
When they say foreigners it's not excluding the Chinese.
The joy of transgender??? · 2 months ago
I still adore Zim. The birthplace of my sons. I fled in 91 and to this day have regrets. Watch you tube about a Brit couple crossing the world in a campervan. All they mentioned was pick n pay, pick n pay. Never heard Bon Marche, TM. OK, Spar mentioned. Have they folded due to Charlie Ching Chong? Sad if they have. Iconic, historical Zim institutions.
We used to frequent Rhodesville Supermarket in Greendale. The bread, still hot delivered in an open bakkie with workers bare feet on it must have added to the flavour.
1Anonymous · 2 months ago
You know that you are an **** right?
Anonymous · 2 months ago
You know that you are an **** right?
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Love one another and live as one,they help your economy.the Zim government strives to shift blame everytime.when will they ever take accountability to how they did the first cut
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X · 2 months ago
You are **** as a door knob!
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Dep Minister Raji Mooi has been quiet all along and now talking because he wants to protect Choppies supermarkets which he wants to protect. Why was he quiet when foreigners were problematic. He knew these foreign owned shops don't pay taxes and are not supposed to be there. If you allow people to engage in business illegally it is a problem removing them. So are getting Zimbabwean Citizenship unconstitutional and that is wrong.
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Thabo · 2 months ago
Look at these Zimbo being xhenophobes, what happened to we are all Africans? You even have camps, Wow zimbos!
Nyongolo · 2 months ago
pnp and ok supermarkets hava bhadhar vashand uye kudhura maproducts enyu haaa,ktozoda vanhu vakanyanya kufunda kan xaaa manje vana OK ava maground ebhora nepoor management kkkkkk xaaa
1Anonymous · 2 months ago
Chinese shops have helped us a lot. My kitchen would not have been well equiped by high quality utensils, my children would not have had enough clothes, shoes, rafters had it not been for Chinese shops. Evem very high quality school books and equipment are now very affordable thanks to Chinese shops. I know many Zim businessmen who are in thr habit of using various false excuses to inflate prices and enrich themselves dont want to hear this. Chinese shops have saved me. Go to a Chinese shop right now and witness for yourself how multitudes are thronging them to get affordable products.
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
So laws must apply to some and not others.? Local shops must pay their taxes whilst others do not. The reason they are cheaper is they are not paying the same to government as local businesses. If the rule applies to some and not others, then they apply to no-one.
Thabo · 2 months ago
But you don't want SOUTH African laws to apply when you jump Limpopo river on a crocodiles back, hypocrite!
Manue · 2 months ago
The problem is not that they have cheaper prices, but the fact that they don't pay taxes like the locals as expected and they can lower prices and beat the locals unfairly.
Thabo · 2 months ago
Your countryman are doing the same in South Africa and worse they are killing us as well. Now the shoe is on the other foot you complain, suck it up
Chinese are going nowhere....... Kkkkkkk!
ㄒ|几ㄒ|几 · 2 months ago
dollarise and there will be order in the retail sector 😕
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Ediots · 2 months ago
generalizations are troublesome. zanu pf must be honest. if pnp and choppies were allowed to operate in Zim then whats wrong with the other nationals doing the same.
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Anonymous · 2 months ago
Its not a question of them operating here, it is a question of them operating outside of the law and trading in foreign currency, whilst governments forces local business to use ZIG.
4Pd · 2 months ago
Pangonzi 'forces' zvadhakwa! Handizvo? Normalize the state and orderliness shall follow. Big retail shops are complaining about ZiG not tuck shops or small retailers, they should be listened to. That tax money if collected would be misused anyway. If the people retain it the better under this governance.
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Zanu PF itself does not accept the Zig but wants other businesses to accept Zig??Double standards by Zanu.Solutuon is to dollarise.
@vhedza · 2 months ago
The results of using foreign currency, why do these foreigners struggle to access foreign currency yet it's plenty in this country?
Nero · 2 months ago
why is that in his shops they are not displaying zig prices they tell u to go and ask the till operator for the rate
ED pfocho · 2 months ago
Saka munoreva kuti mashop matatu iyaya ndiwo adhakwa basi zvmwe zvese bho.
· 2 months ago
Ma big shops Ari kuurawa nema ZIG zvimwe zvese zvamuri kutaura imhema
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dee~tales · 2 months ago
Ko iye Raji Mondi anoyera mutupo upi
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Even big supermarkets are own by foreigners what are you talking about most zimbabweans are just employed as till operators in those supermarkets. When you mentioned nationalities Tanzania, chinese etc what about Indian in your list. Business it's about competition if small businesses are offering a good price I will definitely buy there. Big supermarkets are the ones playing and manipulating our currency.
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huchi.com · 2 months ago
l repeat vendorism
Anonymous · 2 months ago
Now that is competition!!! Someone will lose and somebody will win. Buying and Selling is like that so it is like Wind,it has no permanent route.......
Truth commissioner · 2 months ago
blaming it on sanctions and whites comrades (nyika inovakwa nevanavangu )
Mp
· 2 months ago
both Of these super powers are using us as ginpigs from the pot to the fire
Mp
· 2 months ago
just kill them poison their tea with cyanide any way these Chinese will die one day so take out their miserable life
Kelvin · 2 months ago
U are the one who ll die first
