A youth empowerment group linked to President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party has started a nationwide campaign in Zimbabwe to push Chinese and Nigerian nationals out of the retail sector.
Some representatives of Upfumi Kuvadiki – Inotho Kwabatsha told Studio 7 Friday that they have been assessing retail businesses in Bulawayo this week after conducting a similar exercise in Harare and found that most of the enterprises are in the hands of foreigners.
The group is expected to visit Gweru, Mutare, Kwekwe and other cities within the next two weeks to identify retail businesses it claims are in the wrong hands.
The militant group argues that foreigners should venture into capital intensive projects instead of engaging in the retail sector.
Many Nigerian, Indian and Chinese nationals operate a large number of retail businesses in most cities.
Businessman and former Affirmative Action Group vice president Matson Hlalo warns that Zimbabwe’s economy will be seriously affected if foreigners are forced to abandon the retail sector.
Some of these youths have been occupying some abandoned buildings in Bulawayo’s central business district and threatening to invade foreign-owners retail shops.