Let’s speak with one voice on indigenisation

A number of companies have since submitted their plans on how they intend to cede the 51 percent stake to indigenous Zimbabweans but there are a few that are resisting. The Government has since the enactment of the indigenisation and economic empowerment law, been holding meetings with captains of commerce and industry explaining the rationale behind the move. The companies that are still resisting or refusing to comply with the law can therefore not claim to be ignorant of the provisions of the law.
What should be made clear to companies is that the indigenisation and economic empowerment of Zimbabweans is irreversible. We totally agree with the President, Cde Mugabe, that the time for negotiations is over and it’s now time to implement the programme of indigenisation and economic empowerment.
Those companies that have not submitted plans on how they intend to cede the 51 percent to indigenous Zimbabweans should not cry foul when Government imposes on them schemes to achieve the required indigenous shareholding threshold. Zimbabweans have suffered over the years despite the fact that the country is endowed with natural resources that include minerals, game, timber and arable land. This was primarily because the foreign companies that were invited by our former colonialists were exploiting resources to enrich their countries of origin.
This is the status quo that the companies that are resisting indigenisation and economic empowerment want to maintain. Zimbabweans have remained workers yet they are the owners of the resources that the companies are exploiting. It was because of this realisation that the Government came up with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment policy.
It should therefore be made loud and clear that those companies that want to continue operating in this country have no choice but to comply with this policy. Government should, without delay, move to enforce the policy so that indigenous Zimbabweans who have suffered for decades, can be proud owners of companies. We have said it before that the policy to involve indigenous people in the mainstream economy is not unique to Zimbabwe but is in fact the trend the world over. Governments, including those of developed economies in Europe and America, insist that investors should take on board locals.
It therefore boggles the mind when companies from the very same countries resist the same arrangement in Zimbabwe. The resistance from the few companies should however not be allowed to derail the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme. The Government and the people should confront the resistance in the same way we fought colonialism and the resistance to our land reform programme.
It is important to point out that the war on indigenisation and economic empowerment can only be won if, as Zimbabweans, we are resolute and speak with one voice. Those companies that cannot comply with the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy should just be shown the exit regardless of which sector they are in.