While Namibia still has some qualms about China and its sudden generosity the crooks in office in Zimboland take full advantage of every penny (RMB/Yuan) they can get.


Zimdiaspora - Harare – The cash-strapped Zanu PF party is charging Nigerian and Asian owned businesses thousands of dollars in ‘protection fees’ in order to ‘safeguard’ their operations in Zimbabwe, Zimdiaspora can reveal.

Over the past few years businesses owned by Nigerians and Asians, particularly of Chinese, Pakistan and Lebanese origin have mushroomed in downtown areas of most major cities and towns in Zimbabwe.

A member of the Nigerian Business Community in Zimbabwe told the Zimdiaspora that they are made to pay Zanu Pf an annual protection fees amounting to not less than $500 per business in addition to making other contributions to the former ruling party’s functions and events.“

They are fleecing us,” he complained. “Last time they made us contribute for the holding of the Zanu PF congress last December and now they are demanding that we make contributions to President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations which will be held in Bulawayo over the weekend.”

He said once the foreign owned businesses pay the so called protection fees to Zanu PF, their dubious deals and operations will not be subjected to scrutiny especially with regards to following labour, customs, health and safety regulations.

“Once we pay the required amount, we can actually get assistance from the party in smuggling goods into the country without paying customs. We will also be protected for underpaying our employees,” said a Chinese Shop owner operating in downtown Harare.

Nigerian, Chinese, Pakistan and Lebanese nationals have transformed, sometimes illegally, most offices, businesses and factories in downtown areas into shopping bazaars selling cheap and poor quality clothing, electricals, cosmetics and foodstuffs.

Some of the products pose a serious health hazard and are banned in Zimbabwe, but find their way into the country through smuggling.

Another member of the Nigerian Business community in Zimbabwe said they also recently hosted controversial Attorney-General and Zanu PF apologist, Johannes Tomana who promised them further protection of their businesses.

However, a Chinese diplomat in Harare told Zimdiaspora that China is opposed to its nationals who set up illegal backyard businesses andshopping bazaars selling cheap products.

“Our official policy is that we want serious Chinese investors to come to Zimbabwe and invest in setting up manufacturing plants and other big businesses,” he said.

Zanu PF is now technically insolvent following the introduction of the multi-currency system in January last year. The party used to rely on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which printed money to fund the party’s operations and terror campaigns.

The intimidation of foreign owned businesses through the charging of so called protection fees is one of the ways devised by the now opposition Zanu PF to raise funds for its operations.
source: Zimdiaspora