28th November, 2013
The leader of the Nigerian Community in Zimbabwe has urged Zimbabwean authorities to reconsider the proposed ban on foreigners from owning bakeries, barber shops, estate agencies and a host of other businesses.
The ban is scheduled to take effect from 1 January, 2014, with Nigerian, Chinese DR Congo, Indian and Pakistani businessmen most affected.
Simon Udemba, president of the Nigerian Community in Zimbabwe, urged the government to reconsider the proposed ban.
“I would like to plead with the Zimbabwean government and people to be considerate in effecting this exercise,” Udemba told AFP.
“As an African and resident of Zimbabwe I am particularly concerned if the approach will be economically beneficial for the country.”
He said Nigerians in Zimbabwe are contributing to the development of the country and that they should not be forced out of business.
“I believe Nigerians are providing necessary services. Nigerians have been here with Zimbabweans through all these years of isolation by the West, they never deserted Zimbabwe,” he said.
“They have been in Zimbabwe through thick and thin, they live here with their families. Nigerians in Zimbabwe are doing genuine business and are servicing the economy positively.”
“In my view there is no black African that should be called a foreigner in any black African land, we should look at one another as brothers.”
The rules have been on the books since 2010, but have not yet been enforced.
Long ruling President Robert Mugabe won another term three months ago and has vowed to continue with economic empowerment regulations.
So far the drive to put Zimbabweans in charge has been limited to white-owned farms and some western owned businesses.