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Zimbabwe pressure group plans xenophobic attacks
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
February 17, 2010

Reports have revealed that the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) intends to forcefully remove all Nigerians running businesses in the country in an effort to give leeway for black Zimbabweans to take over.

The AAG stated that these Nigerian businesses are by right supposed to be enjoyed by Zimbabwean locals. Charles Nyachowa the group's president cited that they have approached the government and presented their position regarding the escalation of foreign owned businesses in the country. Consequently they support the new Act that compels foreign owned companies to cede 51% shareholding to black Zimbabwean.

It has been reported that some Zimbabweans have conspired with foreign businessmen by arranging marriages for their daughters in return for shares in their businesses. According to Nyachowa, foreigners should bring machines to manufacture goods and sophisticated technical expertise into the country.

Instead some Nigerian nationals and those from western African countries such as Senegal and Guinea have flooded business ventures in the country ranching from clothing, retail, electrical shops and selling cell phone gadgets and accessories.

The AAG secretary general, Tafadzwa Musarara said that the group would move door to door as a measure to deal with any company that fails to comply with the provision of the Indeginisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

However Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai stated that the law is restrictive and destructive, as it would scare away potential investors who were willing to give the inclusive government the benefit of doubt.

With the constitution making process in motion, ZimRights condemns these blatant acts of alienation. Zimbabwean citizens and residents as well as non-nationals have the right to invest in the country whose economy is in dire need of capital injection. The move by the AAG is no different from the South African wave of xenophobia that claimed the lives of hundreds of Zimbabweans who were working in South Africa, which was a clear violation of human rights.

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