adminSpeaking at a men’s business forum organised by the Brethren-in-Christ Church men’s fellowship in New Lobengula, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is a member of the taskforce team on the “Save Bulawayo Campaign”, said Dimaf had become a political match played by political leaders at the expense of the ailing industries and appealed to churches to pray for the leaders.
The heated business forum, which almost turned into a “political open debate”, was meant to afford men and youths from different churches in Bulawayo a chance to explore opportunities available in the city and they had invited Minister Kasukuwere, Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube, the Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Tapiwa Mashakada and the city council for the discussion.
Ms Misihairambwi-Mushonga represented Prof Ncube, who is MDC president, as he had gone to address his party supporters in Dandanda, Lupane district while Mr Mashakada did not attend.
The Minister of Finance Tendai Biti launched Dimaf in Bulawayo last year where the Government, in partnership with Old Mutual committed itself to provide $40 million for revival of Bulawayo industries.
Participants wanted to know what was happening with Dimaf, which has been surrounded in confusion since its launch more than six months ago.
They also wanted Minister Kasukuwere to explain the indigenisation and empowerment policy.
Minister Kasukuwere said the fund had been heavily politicised.
“Dimaf has been a very painful experience because it has been politics throughout. Professor Ncube, the chairman of the Taskforce Team, is MDC president, Minister Tendai Biti, of Finance, is MDC-T secretary-general and he feels if he gives money to Bulawayo his party would be finished and us as Zanu-PF we are then left in between.
“Prof Ncube was very active initially because he wanted political mileage. We were together with Prof Ncube when we started this campaign for Bulawayo and MDC-T was nowhere near. Minister Biti only came to launch the fund,” he said.
“The bottom line here is that you are a political arena everyone wants for their careers. You have become a football pitch where a match is being played, Prof Ncube plays the ball and Biti plays it as well while we head it in. Dimaf is a year old now since the time we came to launch the “Save Bulawayo Campaign” yet political parties continue to accuse each other on the issue and we hope today’s meeting will make peace.”
Minister Kasukuwere said political leaders needed divine intervention and appealed to churches to combine efforts and pray for them.
“Pray for leaders for people centred policies. Let us make mistakes and we will learn from them as we go. Churches, pray for us,” he said.
Minister Kasukuwere and Minister Misihairambwi-Mushonga both castigated Minister Biti, saying he misled the nation into believing the Government had money for Dimaf when he had not sourced it.
The two Cabinet Ministers concurred there was a need for the country to go back to its values as a nation so that it succeeds in some of its policies.
Minister Kasukuwere said Bulawayo industries closed because people were not in control of them and warned that they would only open when the owners, who are against the country’s empowerment drive, feel like doing so.
Minister Misihairambwi-Mushonga said the mistake the Government made was to make CABS the delivery structure of Dimaf as the bank had set its own stringent conditions.
“I agree with the empowerment but its foundation should be political, we need to revisit and talk about our values. At least 85 companies closed, 19 of them clothing, 63 motor industry, three construction and five of them are under judicial management,” said Minister Misihairambwi-Mushonga.
“We should look at fundamental problems that caused the closure of these companies. The problem is that Government used CABS as the system that decides on the fund. It is important for us people as well to be involved in decision-making, because if you do not sit on the table and make decisions they will be made for you.”
Minister Misihairambwi-Mushonga said only $30 million was available in the Dimaf account. Some of the participants accused the Government of just coming up with the idea without funds.
Minister Kasukuwere said people of Matabeleland were like prisoners living in bondage and encouraged them to take the initiative to empower themselves.
“People of Bulawayo you should locate yourselves in the building of our country because no one will come and build Bulawayo for you. The problem is we are all in prison, we are arrested but I do not know who put chains on us. We are in trouble here and we do not want to support each other but continue to look down upon ourselves. We should be able to look at the next person and say I support you,” he said.
About 60 companies from Bulawayo reportedly applied for the fund but the status of the applications is still a mystery as CABS has been adamant it would not release the information.
Online Reporter