Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s rebuttal of Indigenisation minister Saviour’s Kasukuwere’s declaration that government had taken over all the foreign-owned mines which had not complied with his opaque indigenisation drive has clearly illustrated the confusion that reigns supreme in the inclusive government.
It is difficult to believe that Tsvangirai and Kasukuwere interact in Cabinet meetings every Tuesday to discuss government policy. It begs the question: What do they discuss in these meetings every week if they cannot speak with one voice on an issue that has been on the cards since the formation of the inclusive government three years ago?
Such contradictory statements in the inclusive government will only help to catalyse investor flight and defeat the stated objective of marketing Zimbabwe as an ideal destination for investment.
This is not the first time Kasukuwere has made such reckless statements. He was last year forced to climb down after clashing with Mines minister Obert Mpofu on the takeover of foreign mines. He has also courted the ire of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono after threatening to take over foreign-owned banks.
“As long as I am governor, I will protect the sector from unintended consequences,” Gono had said at a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries breakfast meeting in Bulawayo recently.
“Instead of sharing an existing cake, I have said those who have an appetite for banking please come forward. I will issue licences rather than destroy existing banks. I have no guilty conscience to say that,” Gono added whilst seated next to Vice-President John Nkomo.
Kasukuwere has indeed become a loose cannon and his ruinous crusade needs to be stopped in its tracks. President Robert Mugabe should rein in the minister who has made a mockery of the ideals of empowerment through careless comments. Kasukuwere’s actions continue to show that he lacks the dexterity to run such a sensitive ministry. This was made all the more clear by his astonishing personal attack on his boss, Tsvangirai, calling him the mouthpiece of British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Clearly the GNU is dysfunctional and the mechanisms — for the holding of elections – need to be put in place so as to put an end to this circus. As enunciated time and again, it would be folly to hold elections without crucial reforms being implemented as it would only result in a bloodbath possibly worse than that witnessed during the 2008 presidential runoff election.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Reforms are vital and these must be effected in the constitutional, media and security sectors as agreed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Examples of roadblocks in the implementation process are numerous. These include the continued hate speech peddled in the media, especially the State broadcaster ZBC, the failure to reconstitute the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe as well as demands by Zanu PF to hold elections with or without a constitution in clear contravention of the GPA.
Until we have credible elections, the dysfunction in the inclusive government will continue to bring about more harm than good.
Zimbabweans deserve better.
