Published: 28 August 2017

The establishment of the special economic zones will witness the emergence of a regime within a government as some laws that operate in the country like the indigenisation and economic empowerment act will not apply in the area while business who want to work in the areas will seek clearance from the yet to be established special economic zones authority.

It emerged during a Matabeleland region Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) indaba held in Bulawayo this Friday (today) that government is in the process of setting up a Zimbabwe Economic Zones Authority that shall allocate the special economic zones as the process is still work in progress.

A board member of the special economic zones, Mr Busisa Moyo said save for mining, all the other businesses to operate in the area will be immune to some of the country's legislation as foreigners will retain 100 percent of their businesses when the bill that govern the zones become into law.

Some of the business people who attended the indaba said there is need for massive infrastructure investments in areas like water and electricity if Bulawayo is to assume its earmarked special economic zone specialty of textile and leather production.

Statistics from the leather industry indicate that of the three million pairs of shoes used in the country, only 500 000 are produced locally hence the need to set up special economic zones to rectify such anomalies while creating employment at the same time.
- zbc