Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday told Parliament the indigenisation policy had been turned into political rhetoric that scared away investors and plunged the country deeper into the unemployment quagmire.
“We need a new thrust that creates jobs and protects investors while at the same time promoting investment and empowering the ordinary person,” said Tsvangirai as he delivered his end-of-year speech in Parliament.
Zanu PF is unlikely to take heed of the Premier’s concerns as the party has put the indigenisation policy in its present state as its trump card to win votes ahead of the next election which President Robert Mugabe wants held next year.
Tsvangirai went on to attack Cabinet ministers for allegedly undermining his authority by playing truant both at the Council of Ministers meetings which he chairs and in Parliament.
He said: “Various political parties seconded their people into government. It is impossible to take decisive action on errant ministers some of whom have resorted to open defiance.”
On the economic front Tsvangirai expressed hope the country would fare better and the lives of ordinary people would improve owing to diamond sales which he said were expected to rake in around $600 million into Treasury to finance social services and the constitution-making process.
