Zimbabwe Vice President Says 'No Going Back on Indigenization'

Vice President Joice Mujuru accompanied by the Gospel of God Church secretary general Zaburon Nengomasha (right) arrive at the Gandanzara Shrine, Rusape, on December 16, 2012. The Vice President addressed the government policy of indigenization., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

‘No going back on indigenisation’

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 00:00
Herald Reporters

ZANU-PF will not go back on the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy since it is centred on the need to control resources and improve the living standards of ordinary Zimbabweans, Vice President Joice Mujuru has said.

Addressing thousands of Gospel of God Church (Church YaBaba Johane WeMasowe) devotees at its Gandanzara shrine during the official opening of the sisters’ residence block on Sunday, Cde Mujuru urged churches to be actively involved in the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme.

She said poor citizens in their own country were as good as foreigners in that particular country.

“Let me put it on record that Zanu-PF’s indigenisation and economic empowerment policy is centred on the need to control our resources and improve the living standards of ordinary Zimbabweans and the party will never backtrack on that,” she said.

“This is coming in the form of the Community Share Ownership Trusts and the Employee Share Ownership Trusts among others.

“Be actively involved in empowerment programmes for example, have a bank managed and owned by a union of churches.”

VP Mujuru also urged feuding leaders within the Gospel of God Church to build bridges and unite for one cause.

“I am well aware of the goings-on within this church and some people were actually saying we should not be here simply because there is a lot of infighting. I don’t think that is the duty of leaders. We want to have time to listen to people’s grievances.

“Work together and shun those who are bent on dividing you. You need to emulate the life of the founder of the church Baba Johane Wemasowe,” she added.

The church’s secretary general Reverend Zaburon Nengomasha said the church was fully behind President Mugabe’s leadership.

“We are fully behind you and your party and may the Lord continue to give you wisdom and vision to land our country to prosperity,” he said.

“We preach oneness among the people and always shun hatred, tribalism and laziness.”

He said the church would adopt more empowerment programmes for its members.

“We have taught our followers to be self-reliant and taught them skills of carpentry, tinsmith, weaving and sewing among others.

“We strongly preach to the youth of the church to be hardworkers and desist from all bad habits,” he said.

Reverend Nengomasha also said the church’s founder, Baba Johanne Wemasowe, had prophesied that President Mugabe would rule this country way back in 1934 when he visited Zvimba.