adminParliamentary Legal Committee that General Notice 114 of 2011 violates the declaration of rights in the Zimbabwe Constitution and the matter now awaits debate.
The PLC took exception to Section 16 of the General Notice arguing that by designating entities and primary State institutions, the ministry was compulsorily acquiring private property.
The committee also took issue with Section 21 of the General Notice charging that by designating entities, the minister was imposing partners on foreign investors thereby infringing their right to freedom of association.
A report of the Central Committee that President Mugabe tabled at the just-ended 12th Zanu PF National People’s Conference said the ministry had since communicated to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the
House of Assembly and Clerk of Parliament.
“Through the ministry we responded on the premise that the General Notice is intra vires the enabling Act, does not offend the Bill of Rights and seeks to ensure broad-based participation of the majority, therefore is not a creation of a rich few at the expense of the majority,” it said.
The report said indigeniation was a progressive measure that sought to apply Zimbabwe’s natural resources to ensure the sustainability of such rights as education, shelter, health care and livelihoods for generations to come.
It said the evil and unjustified sanctions had taught that when a country did not control its economy and resources, leaving such critical assets in the hands of foreigners, it was susceptible to socio-economic deprivation at the command of such foreign interests.
“We are confident that the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme is on course and that significant progress in transferring wealth to the indigenous majority will be achieved in the short to medium term,” it said.
The ministry acknowledges that as with the land reform programme, there would be challenges but these could not stifle the will of Zimbabweans to free themselves, their land and resources.
It said ongoing protests by Western citizens were an undeniable indicator that economic deprivation of the majority presented a real threat to achieving real democracy, peace and stability.
Key achievements of the empowerment drive so far include launch of the community share ownership trust at Zimplats and the employee share ownership trust at Meikles and Schweppes. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter