"You guys just come here for the food and free drinks and do not to actually cover what we are discussing," said a well dressed lady who was handling the Media outside the Indaba entrance.
"I am very sorry because if you don't pay then you can't go in especially if you are from the Independent Media or, even worse, if you are a Freelance Journalist.
"We have been given strict instructions not to allow you guys in because all you write are just negative stories about us and our bosses. There is nothing positive that you guys cover and so I am very sorry but you must pay or go away."
However, other journalists especially from The Herald and The Sunday Mail newspapers were allowed into the Indaba's Main Auditorium.
The two newspapers are from the government-controlled Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited (Zimpapers) Group which tows strict government lines.
Photographers from this stable were also allowed into the venue.
Journalists from ZBC TV were also allowed into the Indaba venue which had speakers coming from as far as South Africa to tackle Zimbabwe's Indigenisation progress and what has happened to its objective.
The one-day Indaba was being held at the five-star Rainbow Tourism Hotel's HICC.
Several prominent "indigenisation experts" from around Zimbabwe and South Africa were present.
The Indaba comes at a time when the nation's weak economy is gradually recovering after falling asleep due to hyperinflation and low production levels.
Speakers lined up for the one-day Indigenisation Indaba includpro former ZANU (pf) member of parliament and Chief Executive of Pinnacle Property Holdings (Private) Limited, Phillip Chiyangwa, the ZANU(pf) aligned Affirmative Action Group (AAG) President, Supa Mandiwanzira.
Mandiwanzira is Chief Executive of Mighty Movies (Private) Limited. He is also a board member of The Financial Gazette weekly business and financial newspaper.
Other speakers who were in the line up for the Indaba were Cabinet ministers, Saviour Kasukuwere (Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment), Welshman Ncube (Industry and Commerce), Tapiwa Mashakada (Investment Promotion and Cooperation) and the Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara, who was expected to give the key-note address at the one-day event.
The business sector has been crying foul over Zimbabwe's new Indigenisation and economic empowerment regulations pointing out that it is stiffling investment especially from foreigners.
Under the new act it is now a requirement that locals own at least 51 percent of any firm operating in Zimbabwe with a turnover of at least US$1.
The mining industry says this is scaring away potential investment in their sector which currently needs a staggering US$5 billion conservatively to recover from the malaise that it went through during the times of hyperinflation when several mines were closed.
Kasukuwere, the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister has, however, continually said there "is no going back on the Indigenisation Act" and anyone who does not follow it can "pack their bags and go".
More than 300 mining firms have already given the minister their indigenisation proposals for the way forward.
They include major mining houses listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). The firms also include various subsidiaries of major parastatals operating in Zimbabwe today.
Post published in: Business