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Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter
THE government should consider engaging a reputable public relations firm and professionals to assist in managing the country’s international image to investors, investors say.

In a brief report submitted to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) following a business tour to Europe recently, most investors keen to set up business in the country cited several misconceptions and myths about the country’s investment climate.

“Investors are concerned about the need for Zimbabwe to engage a professional PR firm to assist in the country’s campaign in restoring or repairing its image,” reads a part of the report.

They also pledged to assist in restoring the country’s relations with world institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha led the delegation, which included chief executive officer of Anchor Holdings Michael Nyabadza, Schweppes managing director and former CZI president Charles Msipa as well as the director for Exchange Control at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Morris Mpofu.

The team attended the Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Forum (ZTIF) that was held in London.

The report says investors were also concerned about the country’s failure to have a direct London-Harare flight.

“The unavailability of a direct airline into and out of Zimbabwe has an indirect time cost implication for business or investor meetings. This was also raised in the diaspora engagement segment,” says the report.

Stephenson Harwood aviation firm has been cited as willing to work with Air Zimbabwe and facilitate a rescue package for the national airline to fly into the UK.

The report also advised on the need for a holistic education process on the Zimbabwe’s indigenisation policy.

It said the 51/49 shareholding structure was largely misconstrued despite provisions for negotiations with relevant line ministries.

Investors cited the impact of trading with the country, which does not have a currency of its own.

They questioned the “sustainability of using the US dollar, rand, pula and the impact on long term investments in relation to future likely base currency changes”.

The event was attended by a number of companies among them the ZimTownship Global Networks, Africa Matters, William Davis Business Council for Africa, London Stock Exchange and Stephenson Harwood.

The organisers of the forum, CMG International Media Group has confirmed that due to the high number of requests and enquiries, an inbound investment focused trip to Zimbabwe is being arranged.

CMG will bring a group of investors to Zimbabwe.

Aviation, tourism and infrastructure investors have already confirmed taking part in the trip and as well as the upcoming Regional Tourism Investment Forum including countries in Southern Africa to be held at the end of the UNWTO week in the first week of November.