Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru. The southern African nation has been subjected to a concerted destabilization campaign launched by Britain and the United States.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Kuda Bwititi
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
VICE-PRESIDENT Mujuru has castigated non-governmental organisations that promise to deliver assistance only to give little support to the people, saying the public should not be deceived by such organisations.
Speaking at celebrations to mark Senator Sydney Sekeramayi’s victory in the 2008 race for the Marondera-Wedza constituency, she said NGOs had developed a “worrying trend” of promising “heaven” to the people only to deliver very little.
“It is very worrying that some NGOs raise the hopes of people but they do not live up to their promises,” said Cde Mujuru at the celebrations held in Wedza.
“Some of them have the funds. However, it seems the funds are not getting to the public. It seems they are deliberately delaying providing funding to the intended beneficiaries.”
She urged Zimbabweans to be wary of NGOs that pursue political agendas.
“They take advantage of vulnerable communities and at times the assistance they give is insignificant,” she said.
“At times they just pamper you with small gifts that are meant to deceive you.” The Vice President said Zanu-PF was on a campaign to reinvigorate its structures.
This is in line with its mandate to remain a people-oriented party. She urged all party members to participate in the implementation of Zanu-PF policies.
“All members, starting at cell level, should have their say on how the party is run. We are going to ensure the Presidium constantly holds meetings with provincial and district members,” she said.
“This will enable us to gather views from all levels of the party and by so doing, strengthen the party.” She added that the party was unique because it was rooted in the liberation struggle.
“Zanu-PF is a culture. It is a way of life for every Zimbabwean and it cannot be compared to other political parties that are just like clubs that were formed with an agenda to destabilise the gains of our liberation struggle,” she said.
Vice President Mujuru also deplored the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West, saying the embargo had had a debilitating effect on key sectors of the country.
“Sanctions are hampering progress in key sectors such as health and education. Because of the sanctions, we are unable to get funds to invest in these sectors that are key to the people,” she said.
She also urged political leaders to fulfil pledges made during election campaigns. Speaking at the same occasion, Senator Sekeramayi, who is also the Minister of State Security, thanked the people of Marondera-Wedza for electing him.
He said his constituency was special because many people in the area participated in the country’s liberation struggle.
“There are so many people who fought in the struggle. Some of them died and we should not betray them by letting go of the gains of the war,” he said.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East chairman Cde Ray Kaukonde said leaders in the province should work hard to unite the party.
He appealed to them to also support communities that are facing food shortages. He said the provincial council, the highest decision-making body in the province, is spearheading efforts to provide food aid to areas that produced poor yields last season.
Among those present at the event were Retired General Solomon Mujuru, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Cde Webster Shamu, Lands and Resettlement Minister Dr Herbert Murerwa and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Dr Olivia Muchena.
Govt moves to perfect indigenisation Act.
Sunday Mail Reporter
GOVERNMENT has stepped up efforts to perfect the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act by sending a delegation to South Africa on a fact-finding mission to seek ways to implement the Act practically.
In an interview yesterday from South Africa, National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (NIEEF) board chairman Mr David Chapfika said his team had managed to meet a number of stakeholders.
These included South African government officials whom they held discussion with during their three-day visit to that country.
“Since South Africa initiated black empowerment in 2000, we saw it necessary to approach our neighbouring counterparts to seek an understanding on ways we can accelerate the empowerment initiative for our people,” he said.
“During our fact-finding mission, we met South African government officials from various ministries who were key drivers during their empowerment programme.
“We met officials from the Energy and Minerals Development, Industrial Development Corporation and the Black Economic Empowerment where they highlighted to us mechanisms we can put in place to provide a sound empowerment initiative for our people both in urban and rural areas.”
Mr Chapfika said they met South African officials in the mining sector to understand how they managed to tackle challenges in the shareholding structure in mines.
“The majority of mining companies in Zimbabwe also operate in South Africa, hence we met all the relevant stakeholders to look at the merits and demerits on how we can come up with a considerate shareholding structure in the mining sector,” he said.
The country’s economic empowerment laws were gazetted in February this year and seek to compel foreign- owned companies with an asset value of at least US$500 000 to cede a controlling stake of not less than 51 percent to locals within the next five years.
The companies were given up to March 31 to submit their empowerment proposals.
The deadline has been extended twice — first to May 15 then to June 30 — .after consultations with stakeholders.
Government has mandated the NIEEF to ensure the full implementation of the regulations.
More than 600 companies have so far submitted proposals on how they intend to comply with the regulations.
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