High-level Zanu-PF reps absent at conference

epresentation from the Zanu-PF side of the inclusive Government.
President Mugabe, who was expected to make the keynote address, did not attend.
His spokesperson Mr George Charamba said the organisers had not sent an invitation and draft speech by the end of the day on Monday.
Vice Presidents John Nkomo and Joice Mujuru did not also attend.
Ministers from Zanu-PF who attended the meeting included Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Cde Obert Mpofu (Mines and Mining Development) and Cde Samuel Undenge (Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion).
Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo and some MPs also attended the conference.
The Euromoney Conference is being co-ordinated by the ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion and that of Finance.
“It would appear the two ministers were having problems in the ownership of the event,” said Mr Charamba.
The Herald however, understands that Finance Minister Tendai Biti had invited the Euromoney Conference organisers without consulting the Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Tapiwa Mashakada and this had resulted in haggling for control of the conference.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai gave the keynote address and made a half-hearted defence of Government policies such as the indigenisation programme.
“The indigenisation programme has caused so much consternation among investors. But there is no Government policy to nationalise or to expropriate,” he said.
On sanctions, PM Tsvangirai said: “There has been speculation on my position as Prime Minister on the issue of sanctions. We should not attempt to score cheap political points over issues that are clear. We agreed in the GPA that we would work towards normalisation of relations between Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.”
He accused his partners in the inclusive Government of “failing to let go the culture of violence”.
His sentiments come barely a week after he boycotted the Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign launch saying it was a Zanu-PF project.
The parties to the GPA, Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations, agreed Under Article IV to call for the lifting of the sanctions.
Political commentator, Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday dismissed the investment conference as a “fake conference” to counter the Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign launched on Wednesday last week.
“This is a fake investment conference bringing together the MDC-T which called for the illegal sanctions and the people who imposed them.
“It is also preposterous that these people decided to hold an investment conference and unfortunately (PM) Tsvangirai took it as an opportunity to use blatant lies to justify the illegal sanctions in the name of human rights abuses and violence.”
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Em-powerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said while Government welcomed foreign investment, it should be led by domestic investment.
“Domestic investment must lead the development of our economy.
“It has become apparent that our country has enough natural resources that should be used to unleash domestic investment which should be partnered by foreign direct investment,” he said.
Minister Kasukuwere said foreign direct investment could help in making the economy truly Zimbabwean.
“Zimbabwe has fantastic human resources and FDI can assist in creating an enabling environment for people to be the centre of economic development and total emancipation.”
He said his ministry together with the Economic Planning and Investment Promotion and Finance ministries would soon launch road-shows across Zimbabwe to understand the challenges being faced in implementing the empowerment drive.
“The massive sub-soil value in Zimbabwe should be used for the empowerment of the local people and invite foreign investors for assistance.”