Harare, May 19,2011 - The eight member delegation of the Germany parliament which has been in the country for the past two days said the Indigenisation regulations in the country that are forcing foreigners to part away with 51 percent shareholding to locals are scaring their nationals to invest in the country.

The delegation from different political parties in the Bundesstag, the Germany parliament held several meetings with senior government officials on their two day Zimbabwe assessment. The delegation met with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Speaker of Parliament, Lovemore Moyo, Zanu PF chairperson, Simon Khaya Moyo and representatives of the civic society that include Lovemore Matombo the ZCTU president and Zimbabwe Peace Project head, Jestina Mukoko.
 
The delegation said it was informed by the different individuals and groups of the different dates that has been set for elections, which showed that the political parties and the people of Zimbabwe are to agree on the way forward to free and fair elections.
 
"Many German companies are ready to invest in Zimbabwe. However, the recently published rules on indigenisation have put on hold most investment projects. While German companies have a long standing constructive record regarding empowerment and corporate social responsibility all over the world, they need to be assured by the Zimbabwean authorities that internationally accepted standards of free enterprise will be guaranteed," the Germany delegation said in a statement before their departure.
 
"Friendship, mutual trust and continuous cooperation require full respect for bilateral agreements. In this context, we note with concern that German property and German investments in this country continue to be under threat. We appeal to the Zimbabwean government to protect those German owned assets in full observance of the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement."
 
The Germany delegation was composed of Stefan Liebich (Head of Delegation DIE LINKE), Prof. Dr. Egon Jüttner (CDU/CSU), Erich G. Fritz (CDU/CSU), Dagmar Wöhrl (CDU/CSU), Karin Roth (SPD), Angelika Krüger-Leißner (SPD),Petra Müller (FDP) and Cornelia Behm (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN).
 
The position by the Germans is shared by many other European countries which have been complaining of the about the disregard of BIPPA agreements. The Germany delegation said after years of official suspension of the official parliament relations between Zimbabwe and Germany, Berlin is ready to re-engage.