Foreign Policy Blogs

Zimbabwe’s Local Ownership Law Raises False Hopes

While I am in favor of the idea of viewing locals as business partners, I take a different attitude with regard to Zimbabwe“Indigenization Plan”, a law that requires locals to own 51 percent of major foreign firms.

Why? Nothing new about this approach: Zambia tried and failed. Namibia has been trying it with its land reform process, and is failing miserably. Therefore while it may appear that Zimbabwe finally has found a solution, I urge the Zimbabwean government to learn from its neighbors, and avoid the temptation of making ordinary Zimbabweans into thinking that their economic hardships have come to an end.

 

Author

Ndumba J. Kamwanyah

Ndumba Jonnah Kamwanyah, a native of Namibia in Southern Africa, is an independent consultant providing trusted advice and capacity building through training, research, and social impact analysis to customers around the world. Mos recently Ndumba returned from a consulting assignment in Liberia in support of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
In his recent previous life Ndumba taught (as an Adjunct Professor) traditional justice and indigenous African political institutions in sub-Saharan Africa at the Rhode Island College-Anthropology Department.

He is very passionate about democracy development and peace-building, and considers himself as a street researcher interested in the politics of everyday life.
Twitter: NdumbaKamwanyah