Defiant firms warned

“These deposits are our natural heritage yet these mining companies have been benefiting from them for years without developing the communities they operate in,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
“The resource value of the minerals is greater than the investment they made in extracting. We want to be very clear on this issue that the mines belong to our people as a God-given gift.”
He warned that mining companies that resist the indigenisation drive risk losing their businesses.
“We give permission to investors who want to do mining here and those who do not want to comply with the laws can take their equipment and go away.
“The issue of the 51 percent ownership of the economy by blacks is no longer a debate. The Government would not hesitate to declare 100 percent takeover on those companies that take long to comply,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
Minister Kasukuwere assured the people of Matabeleland South that the Government would ensure that they receive maximum benefits from their natural resources, especially in mining.
He said the province was a leading giant in gold production countrywide yet poor in terms of development.
Minister Kasukuwere said the time had come for big mining companies in the province to cede shares to communities and allow black people to engage in business without barriers.
He said it was sad that Zimbabwe, despite having huge mineral deposits and land, continued to be a supplier of raw materials to other countries and a market for finished imported products.
Minister Kasukuwere said his ministry had set up committees that look at specific sectors of production such as manufacturing, hospitality and others to ensure that ordinary Zimbabweans are afforded the opportunity to venture into these sectors.
He said the Government was also committed to ensuring that black owned businesspeople tap resources that have not been exploited.
Minister Kasukuwere said under the programme, workers whom foreign employers have all
along oppressed, would get the opportunity to own shares and participate in the running of companies.
He reiterated that a Sovereign Wealth Fund would be set up to cater for areas that do not have resources to ensure equitable distribution of funds under the Community Share Ownership Scheme/Trust.
“Zanu-PF has a policy of putting people first and that is a major focus of all our programmes. This will no doubt make the party more acceptable to people,” said Minister Kasukuwere.