President Robert Mugabe’s nephew and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Patrick Zhuwawo, claims the indigenisation programme was not being supported by other parties in the coalition government because it was the brainchild of Zanu PF.
Addressing delegates at an indigenisation indaba in Harare on Wednesday, Zhuwawo said after the land reform programme, Zanu PF was now targeting indigenisation of the mining sector.
“The indigenisation programme is a Zanu PF policy meant to benefit all Zimbabweans. It is driven by Zanu PF, this is why you get discordant views when you talk about it in the inclusive government,” Zhuwawo said.
“We now have opposition within government. Our inclusive government is about the ability of opening opportunities. Some have to end up justifying their existence.
“The perception out there is that the policy is going to benefit Kasukuwere and his friends. We need to change that perception. It is just like BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) in South Africa.”
Addressing the same gathering, Youth Development and Economic Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere said all mining companies should comply with the indigenisation laws by September or “we will kick them out”.
“We will ask them to hand over their assets to the State,” he said. He said a total of 175 mining companies had so far submitted their proposals.
