Get on the indigenisation train

in? Do you know someone who can help us? Is it for real? Who else has benefited?” Judging from the pace that the Government, in particular the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment is moving, the good times are certainly here.
What is encouraging is the entry point of the programme. It started with the communities surrounding the mining areas where resources are being mined and rightfully recognised the custodians of the mineral wealth.
While it may seem early days yet, there seems to be good signs emerging from the engagement of the people through the local leadership under the auspices of the respective chiefs. The initial funds that have been placed on the table at Mhondoro/Ngezi/Zvimba (US$10 million), Tongogara Community Share Trust (US$10 million) and the Zvishavane Community Share Trust (US$10 million) are just the beginning of bigger things to come. The crusade will soon move on to Matabeleland South where the mining community there has embraced the programme.
The most critical element of the entire programme is to instill a sense of business acumen in the minds of the beneficiaries so that the resources are not abused for selfish reasons. A true entrepreneurial approach is desirable to ensure that the outcome is there for generations to come. This should not be viewed as a political tool to address the obvious socio-economic imbalances that we have been erstwhile subjected to, no. This is a new dispensation and should be viewed in the realm of the new economic order.
It is encouraging that the Government has started running management and corporate governance courses for traditional chiefs to enable them to run community share ownership trusts.
This is a noble initiative as critics of the programme were already going for the chiefs saying that they had no capacity to administer the trusts. With the regulatory and administrative issues being addressed, we anxiously wait the operationalisation of the development programmes that will emerge for the people and by the people.
What is of interest is that the locals will run these projects, for the locals and using local resources.
If, for instance, it is the construction of a local clinic, the contractors should be drawn from the local community and the building material should also be sourced from there. Jobs will be created and everyone will have something to do.  What this promotes is the circulation of money in that community, stimulating economic activity. When the whole project is complete and it has been actualised everybody will be involved. That is a starting point for empowering the local community.
In the broader economic context, the concerns that have been raised are anchored on the implementation of the entire indigenisation process.  Politicians have been roundly accused of hijacking the indigenisation crusade to enrich themselves at the expense of the majority.  Here is a perfect opportunity for them to display their impartiality and sincerity by demonstrating equal opportunities for all.
Many people are closely following the developments not purely because they support the indigenisation or the empowerment of the people, but to just pick on the faults and shortcomings of the programme.
It should be made clear from the onset that this is the right time to take a position and resolve that this country and indeed the entire continent should aim to rid itself of the ages old curse of poverty. It’s only us who can liberate ourselves from this scourge.
It is anticipated that the Government would step up its drive to educate the people that the empowerment programme is for all to benefit and create opportunities to exploit their entrepreneurial talents. There is need for more engagement at grassroots level so that all concerned are geared to play their part.
Granted that we all cannot be businesspeople, but a better-resourced populace is better to govern that a deprived lot.
We should strive to provide better living conditions, healthy living, more jobs and good education for our children.  History will judge us harshly if we fail to correct some of the injustices that we have adopted over the years. The time is now!
As always, let’s make money.

l [email protected]