President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has been re-elected numerous times since 1980. Mugabe has stood up to the threats and sanctions of the western imperialist nations. The pro-western opposition has withdrawn from joint cabinet meetings.
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Herald Reporter
INDIGENISATION regulations that took effect at the beginning of this month are meant to ensure sustainable development of the economy and fight poverty among the majority of the people, Youth, Indigenisa-tion and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has said.
Speaking to journalists at a reception in Harare last Friday, Minister Kasukuwere said the regulations would not be reversed, adding that his ministry was open to any suggestions that strengthened the empowerment agenda.
"This is not a very small decision, it’s a fundamental and far-reaching decision.
"We are not looking for votes and we are not playing to the gallery, we want sustainable development.
"Fifty-one percent of this economy must be controlled by the majority and what is wrong with that?
"We are not against foreigners, but we are saying our people must come first," he said.
Minister Kasukuwere said the Council of Ministers had agreed that any amendments to the regulations would be done through him.
"I am the Minister of Indigenisation and I publish those regulations.
"Every minister has his area and you won’t hear me talking of other ministries. We have said in the Council of Ministers that every change on the regulations will come through me," said Minister Kasukuwere.
His remarks follow statements by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Professor Welshman Ncube last week that the regulations were published unprocedurally and would be revised.
The indigenisation regulations require companies to — within the next three months — explain how they intend to fulfil the requirements of the law on empowerment and to have 51 percent ownership by blacks in the next five years.
Minister Kasukuwere said Government had concentrated on social issues such as health and education since independence, but had done little to ensure participation by the black majority in the mainstream economy.
He said the illegal sanctions imposed on the country were working because the economy was foreign-owned and controlled.
"We are under sanctions and these sanctions work because the economy is in the hands of foreigners," he said.
Under the indigenisation programme, workers are also set to benefit under employee share ownership schemes.
Minister Kasukuwere urged local journalists to protect their nation from negative publicity by Western countries that sought to undermine Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.
He said that some Western countries were using journalists to destroy the country.
"Journalists are being asked to write hate stories about their country and surprisingly they write as many stories as they can falsifying some facts in a bid to find negative stories about their country," he said.
Responding to a question on the empowerment of journalists who were the window to the world yet they die unnoticed, the minister said that if journalists wrote positively about indigenous and empowerment, they were also going to be empowered.
He said there was no way the journalists could expect to get empowered after demonising the empowerment programme on Internet websites and local private media.
"Some of you sleep on the floor and hope of being businesspeople in the future, but surprisingly the same person writes a story that says locals cannot manage businesses on their own," he said.
Tsvangirai slams corruption
Herald Reporter
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has publicly admitted that his party is riddled with corruption that is threatening its integrity and vowed to fire all members found guilty.
Addressing party supporters in Chitungwiza yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said corruption had become a deep-rooted cancer in the party structures.
"What is happening now is a manifestation of a party yapindwa napongwe. This is a reflection of a party eroding as a result of corruption. This is a serious matter and recently we fired the Chitungwiza executive because of corruption.
"We again fired the Chitungwiza council that was also mired in corruption. As president of the party, I have an obligation to protect the integrity of the party and in pursuit of this obligation, I prefer to become the most unpopular leader for a very popular reason," he said.
He maintained that the Chitungwiza councillors that were dismissed by the party for corruption did not have legitimacy to continue serving in the local authority.
Mr Tsvangirai said he would meet the responsible minister over the issue soon.
However, Local Government, Urban and Rural Development Minister Ignatius Chombo has already indicated that he will not fire the council over party squabbles.
Mr Tsvangirai said some of the party officials who secured Government positions were abusing them for self-enrichment.
"Vamwe venyu manga musina kana nebhutsu chaidzo asi mave kufamba nemota six-six. We are very serious about this issue. Some of you are already building white houses, saka chii ichocho?" he asked.
Mr Tsvangirai’s remarks on corruption come at a time when there are reports of corruption and maladministration in Chegutu, Bindura and Kadoma.
Sources close to the party said a report that was tabled before the party’s national council last week had shown alarming levels of corruption, with councillors being accused of enriching themselves.
Turning to the ongoing talks over the implementation of Global Political Agreement issues, Mr Tsvangirai said the negotiations should come to an end to allow the inclusive Government time to rebuild the economy.
He said people were waiting for the Government to deliver, hence the need to conclude the dialogue.
Before addressing the rally, Mr Tsvangirai planted a palm tree at his Strathaven home in the morning in memory of his late wife Susan who died in a car accident on March 6 last year.
He was assisted by his son Edwin.
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