Zimbabwe's government has formed a task-force to carry out raids across the country to ensure retail shops owned by foreigners have secured the "indigenization license", which seeks to promote black employment.

Wilson Gwatiringa, chief executive officer of the National Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Board (NIBB) told the national parliament Thursday that the task-force is composed of indigenization officials, police, local officials, and key stakeholders.

Gwatiringa said the NIBB had received 1,311 compliance applications to date, with 578 certificates issued.

Zimbabwe's controversial indigenisation law, drawn up in 2007, stipulates 14 sectors of the economy as "reserved sectors" where foreigners are not allowed to operate. A government circulate issued last year demanded that all retail shops should comply with the indigenization law and get a certificate before the deadline of Jan. 1, 2014. Uncomplied shop owners will face fines or a maximum three months jail term.

The calling for a task-force, however, seems to run against the claim made by Indigenisation Minister Francis Nhema about a month ago. Nhema said foreign shops won't be forced to shut down even if they did not comply with the indigenization law. New business certificates, however, will be favored for indigenous people.

The bulk of foreign retail business owners in Zimbabwe are mainly the Chinese and the Nigerian.