Maravi

THE HERALD - Game Parks, Business Diversification

Keep lions under tight security

EDITOR — I would like to inform the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of a privately-owned Game park that poses great danger to people and their livestock. The game park (name given) is in Karoi close to Mauya Resettlement Scheme. I do not know whether the lions in the park accidentally stray out or they are deliberately released to fix the resettled farmers.

The lions have so far killed beasts belonging to resettled farmers and the next victim is likely to be a human being. The park lies in between villages and I feel the lions should always be kept under tight control.

I suggest that either the game park be owned by the Government for better controls, the lions be removed from the park or the villagers get an assurance from the responsible authorities that the lions have been placed under maximum security, which ever is possible.

The resettled farmers are not comfortable to stay under perpetual fear of the lions; our children no longer freely go to school for fear of being mauled by stray beasts.

Worried villager.

Karoi.



http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=17604&cat=10

Encourage businesses to diversify

FOR some time, Harare City Council has cast a blind eye to the mushrooming one-line businesses at shopping centres, particularly in most high-density suburbs. It would appear the council was issuing out permits without following up to see how these businesses have been operating.

Bottle stores, bars and butcheries are sprouting in the high-density suburbs as if they are going out of fashion. Yet in terms of employment creation for the local community, they do not compare with businesses such as bakeries or home industries that manufacture various goods required by the local community.

In fact, the council’s liquor undertaking, Rufaro Marketing, has fallen victim to the privately-owned bottle stores, bars and night clubs dotted around the suburbs. It has become quite common even in areas that are being developed for residential purposes that the first businesses that open in those areas are liquor outlets.

But residents in these areas need much more than a butchery, a bottle store and a bar and night club. They need other services, especially with the high transport fares to commute to and from town just for shopping.

A few years ago, some established retail chains started opening up supermarkets in the high-density suburbs for the shopping convenience of residents, but there was an outcry by local businesses who saw this as an intrusion into their turf.

But even the number of supermarkets at some shopping centres has increased to such an extent that it no longer makes business sense for one to remain in business in those areas.

Now the City of Harare wants shop owners in suburban shopping centres to offer a wide range of services to consumers. This was after the council found out that shop owners are concentrating on similar businesses when it would be in their interest to diversify.

The council recently approved proposals on trading activities at shopping centres and wants to limit the number of operators engaging in the same type of business at each shopping centre by reviewing permits.

Shop operators will be issued with town planning permits, which will in essence be used to control the nature of business activities in order to avoid overtrading.

We feel this is a noble objective which council should, however, carry out after full consultations with the business people and after thoroughly explaining its policy to them.

It would be in the best interest of the businesses concerned in the long run.

It does not make business sense to have between eight and 10 businesses operating liquor outlets or five butcheries at one shopping centre.

While competition is healthy for any business, serious thought needs to be put into how these businesses should be streamlined.

The city council could start by offering incentives to investors diversifying into businesses other than those already existing at a particular shopping centre.




COMMENT - This is one of the perils of not having the huge majority of businesses being indigenously owned. It is a matter of sovereignty, in this case the ability to implement policy through open and honest negotiations.


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Govt blasts business over prices, incomes protocol
Herald Reporter

THE Government has blasted business for frustrating the signing of the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol, saying the partners were not negotiating in good faith. The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Cde Nicholas Goche, told more than 200 teachers at the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association’s 26th annual conference in Norton at the weekend that business lacked commitment on the conclusion of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.

The minister said the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol could have been signed last year if business was forthcoming. "Although negotiations are going on well, business is not showing seriousness because they always come up with excuses. Business is not negotiating in good faith, but I remain optimistic that we will conclude the process soon," he said.

Cde Goche — who is the TNF chairman — said most business owners were driven by imperialist ideologies bent on causing chaos in the country and force people to protest against the Government. "Who is business in Zimbabwe? Those we negotiate with are not the owners of the business and their employers push them. We, as the State, don’t have the same objectives with the businesspeople we negotiate with.

"Business wants to see chaos in the country so that they can influence regime change," he said.

The minister said despite the dragging by businesspeople, the Government, labour and business had been at the negotiating table for the past two weeks. The Government would isolate economic saboteurs in the signing of the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol to bring economic stability, said Cde Goche.

He reiterated that he would engage committed partners who have the objective of halting the ever-increasing prices of basic commodities. "I am not going to give up on the TNF. The way forward is to leave out people who lack seriousness and conclude the protocol," said Cde Goche.

He paid tribute to civil servants for working under poor working conditions and salaries, saying the Government would continue engaging them.

Cde Goche explained that the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol restrained the wanton increase in the prices of goods and services that has characterised the economy in recent years. The protocol is also meant to close the gap between salaries and prices of goods.

However, the minister said business recently made reasonable recommendations, which would be looked at in today’s meeting.

"Business has submitted that they need a Restoration of Business Protocol aimed at boosting company operations that have been on a downward trend. A mobilisation and management of foreign currency protocol is also needed to help companies on imports components," said Cde Goche.

Partners almost concluded the TNF last year, but talks collapsed after business withdrew at the eleventh hour.

Labels: THE HERALD, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:54 PM