One of the major problems with the current mode of indigenisation is that everything is done outside the context of empowering the nation.
The motive is singular to gain political mileage. If the indigenisation programme was being done with the aim of empowering the majority for future development, it would have been understood from the beginning that empowerment through indigenisation does not translate to grabbing assets from A and giving them to B.
Empowerment through indigenisation is not grabbing and redistributing. It should enable people to gain skills and knowledge that allow them to overcome obstacles in life. It should allow us to develop as a nation.
This cannot be achieved by grabbing 51% shareholding from other peoples businesses and redistributing among a few politically connected sycophants.
The consequences of the chaotic land reform programme, which brought more hunger than food to our tables, are still fresh in our minds as a reminder of the effects of these ill-conceived grab-and-go policies.
Indigenisation should not be predominantly negative on individuals, corporations and productivity. This only happens when those who have the powers to spearhead indigenisation use the concept for selfish advantage as they tend to demean other stakeholders, treating them with contempt.
In such situations we end up with a weak empowerment model that lacks buy-in from stakeholders. Such a model can only be pushed through the use of force as is the case with the current one that rides on threats.
If indigenisation is to empower the nation, it should be a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives to enable them to act on issues they define as important.
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How this can be achieved by grabbing assets including private schools and giving them to a few politically connected individuals boggles the mind.
This is neither indigenisation nor empowerment; it is simply the politics of patronage and the expansion of the oligarchy. The few individuals benefiting would forever be indebted to those who facilitated the seizure. The people would never be considered in this case; it is assumed that they benefit vicariously.
It is politics, not indigenisation, period. At present we have a very weak economy that creates complex issues for us. To solve the problem, we do not need to scare away investors with poor policies.
We need positive collaborations whose foundation is mutual respect, a foundation that espouses diverse perspectives and a vision tailored towards development. It is only then that we can work as a nation towards realistic solutions for the benefit of the majority.
The current scenario where a few greedy and misguided individuals craft out-of-tune policies to benefit their selfish agendas and those of their friends does not help. It has serious repercussions in the near future.
The current indigenisation thrust serves the wrong purpose as it divides the nation and charts the way towards poverty.
