The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
BUSINESS-FRIENDLY policies introduced by the Second Republic anchored in the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra have spurred unprecedented growth in the private security sector.
Industry players have hailed Government’s pro-business posture that has stimulated increased demand for private security services mainly from the mining, retail, construction and manufacturing sectors.
Mr Cliff Peisa, chief executive of the indigenous security firm Cliff Security, said companies are witnessing increasing demand for their services.
“It is clear that the Second Republic has undoubtedly met its promise of employment creation,” he said.
“Its policies have seen major investors coming in from around the globe.
“New business ventures are opening up in various sectors, especially in the construction, farming and mining industries.”
He said development and growth are generally accompanied by increasing crime rates, hence the demand for security services.
“This has brought much business for security companies in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Innovation and the ability to adapt to the new environment have seen companies growing rapidly in the new environment.”
Mr Peisa, however, said the sector’s gains were being affected by insurance and procurement regulations that generally work against small and medium enterprises.
“One of the main challenges that security companies are facing is the absence of legislation to protect firms in the event of incidents such as loss of high-cost property,” he
said.
“We are currently covered using ‘professional indemnity insurance’, a concept that most clients do not understand.
“When losses occur, clients still want security companies to compensate.
“The insurance system can take up to a year to process a claim, though it ideally should take two weeks maximum.”
He urged security companies to adopt new technologies to combat armed robberies.
“The presence of guards at sensitive sites also discourages and deters possible invaders from making such attempts, compared to unguarded premises, especially when a guard is armed.”
Mr Peisa said online and real-time surveillance could also go a long way in reducing robberies involving banks and cash-in-transit crews.
