Foreign Firms Squeeze Local Retailers

Zimbabwe’s brickmaking industry is under strain as foreign-backed companies expand into retail, squeezing local producers like Willdale Bricks, where workers have gone unpaid for months. Despite laws reserving retail for citizens, weak enforcement allows foreign firms to sell directly to customers. Analysts warn that the inconsistent application of the indigenization policy and rising competition are eroding the local industry. High production costs, taxes, and outdated technology have deepened the sector’s financial distress.