Zanu PF deputy national spokesperson and Bulawayo Metropolitan governor Cain Mathema has made a major U-turn by condemning the ongoing invasion of foreign-owned buildings by party youths in the city, describing the actions as illegal.
Mathema’s remarks at the weekend are a complete departure from his February 18 threats where he vowed to assist cross- border traders occupy vacant buildings they would have identified in Bulawayo.
“Identify just any building — I will assist you to enter into it,” said Mathema at the launch of the Rand Card and Travelux Visa Card at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo.
“It is mind-boggling that most of you here do not have homes, you live in small rented boxes yet you worked and still work hard in sustaining our economy. I just advise you to identify any building of your choice especially those that are not working, I will personally assist you to get into them.”
But on Friday, Mathema told the State-controlled Chronicle newspaper he wanted those leading the invasions to be arrested.
“It has come to my attention that there are groups of people who masquerade as Zanu PF youths, as Zanu PF members and war veterans threatening to illegally occupy buildings and take over companies,” he said.
“That is illegal. All companies who come across such people must immediately report them to the police or the governor’s office. I would not hesitate to order the police to arrest such hooligans.” However, Zanu PF sources said Mathema’s directive might ignite fresh chaos as there were a number of bigwigs benefiting from the invasion of the buildings.
“There are quite a number of politburo members who have been backing the invasion of the buildings and now that it has been declared illegal, there are going to be serious fights within the party,” said an insider.
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“These politburo members who are benefiting from the invasions are the same people who have been giving the youths protection because by renting out the invaded buildings, they have been making lots of money.”
The party youths recently clashed with provincial party chairperson Isaac Dakamela over the invasions after he condemned them as illegal.
Zanu PF youths have reportedly invaded a number of buildings in the city which they allegedly later leased out and pocketed the money.
The youths have threatened to occupy more than 60 Bulawayo buildings and houses owned by white and Indian businesspeople claiming they would be implementing the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
Joseph Tshuma, the Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial secretary for security, recently claimed they had compiled a list of buildings and houses owned by whites and Indians in the city and would grab them with immediate effect.
“This is the beginning of the implementation of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and black Zimbabweans will use them as business premises,” he said.
In June last year Zanu PF youths in Bulawayo seized three buildings located in the central business district owned by Indian and Italian families.
Some of the invaded buildings include Zambesia and Canberra flats located between Leopold Takawira Street and Sixth Avenue and owned by the Laloo family of Indian origin. The youths have also grabbed the Capri complex which houses the Pizzaghetti owned by the Di Palma family who are of Italian origin.
