A Zimbabwean businessman, who participated during the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC)‘s debate in Harare on Thursday has complained about the externalisation list which was meant to ‘name and shame’ saying that the list is a lie.
The businessman, who has invested into LED lights manufacturing in Zimbabwe said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who produced the list was lied to as companies such as the affected investor’s had not externalised money but were facing problems with bank papers and procedures.
“Companies that are in the list are all companies that were there when the economy of Zimbabwe was struggling… Zimbabwean companies that are on the list are all companies that are trying to develop Zimbabwe,” the businessman said.
Zimbabwe’s leader is on record stating that he was going to be provided by the Reserve Bank (RBZ) the list of those who externalised money.
Participants during the debate also showed dissatisfaction on the externalisation document with Former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti saying that the list is unfair.
Member of Parliament James Maridadi queried the appearance of Artist Alias Msakwa on the list stating that the Musician has been struggling with the music carrier and could not have externalised 9 Million Dollars.
Biti added “The first thing to do is to have clarity of the law, we cannot have retrospective laws… where does Msakwa get 9 million from? Even the country which he chooses Portugal?!”
Past ZNCC president Luxon Zembe said “The problem with that list is that it criminalises people and when you criminalise people, no one wants to do business with you because you criminalise them.”
However, Member of Parliament Themba Mliswa, who was in the debate said that the industrialists are doing things reactionary and should have advised on the government on externalisation before the externalisation documents were brought out.
Mliswa also blamed the government institutions before the new dispensation of being dysfunctional.
“I want to say to the President, the entire system was dysfunctional; they have started work right now,” the Norton MP said.
Mliswa also said that banks have the power to protect clients and should not be afraid of doing so.
Biti also said that in a small economy such as Zimbabwe, the role of the government is to facilitate the exportation of goods. Mliswa said where there is a revolution there is always the innocent that suffer, in agreement that there are some who were not supposed to be on the list.