Addressing delegates at the recent Zanu (PF) National Annual People’s Conference, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Muzembi, said his ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Youth Development, Empowerment and Indigenisation to make sure that tourism and hospitality companies owned by foreigners would cede 51 percent of their equities to indigenous black people.
“Most foreign companies or individuals in the tourism and hospitality sectors are invading the indigenisation policy. I am going to meet the minister of Youth Development, Empowerment and Indigenisation in the next two weeks and discuss the issue. If the companies have already partnerships with blacks, we will thoroughly scrutinise the partnerships to ascertain their authenticity,” said Muzembi.
The Minister said he had already instructed the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority not to issue licences to companies which did not have indigenisation plans next year. The new requirements will affect restaurants, lodges, hotels, car hire companies and travel and tour operators.