Published: 02 December 2013

The government has expressed concern over reports of exorbitant rentals and other charges being demanded by property owners and has challenged the operators to comply with the laws of the country.

The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi urged Zimbabweans to embrace the Pan-African spirit and to desist from unjustified victimisation of foreign retail operators, adding that there is need to adopt business strategies which ensure economic growth.

Speaking on the sidelines of the official opening of a food outlet in Harare, Minister Mzembi said there is need for the foreign business operators and property owners to comply with the country's laws and desist from charging exorbitant rentals.

According to director of the food outlet, Mr Tawanda Mutyebere, local indigenous business people are being forced out of business as they are compelled to pay huge sums of money as goodwill in addition to exorbitant rentals at around $40 000.

Foreign shop owners in Zimbabwe are in the process of engaging the government after a directive compelling them to close their business by the end of the year to pave way for locals to venture into the sector which is preserved for indigenous people under the indigenisation law.  
- zbc