adminTemba Dube Senior Reporter
MDC-T candidate for Pelandaba-Mpopoma Mr Bekithemba Nyathi, has vowed that his party will suspend the indigenisation and empowerment programme if it wins the 31 July elections. Speaking at a “meet the candidates” debate arranged by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association at Mabutweni Hall on Sunday, Mr Nyathi said the programme was not acceptable to “normal people.”
“This programme is not working for anyone. Only a mad investor can agree to the 51-49 ownership ratio that favours locals. How can you expect such a big stake in a business where you have put nothing?” asked Mr Nyathi, who all along has been a messenger at a local law firm.
He said the first thing his party would do if it wins the elections, was to suspend the programme.
“It is causing de-investment. As MDC-T we want to grow the economy first and get rid of corruption before we talk about indeginisation. The programme is not good for the country,” said Mr Nyathi.
Responding to a question about indeginisation, Zanu-PF National Assembly candidate for the constituency, Cde Joseph Tshuma, said only a true Zimbabwean would understand the programme.
“The 51-49 ratio is very fair. We should understand that foreign investors come here to exploit our natural resources so that they develop their countries hence the Government’s decision that we should share these resources. As Zimbabweans, our natural resources are the 51 percent stake that we put in the business and investors put in their 49 percent in the form of capital,” said Cde Tshuma.
He said failure by Zimbabweans to appreciate their worth has resulted in foreigners always benefiting from the country’s wealth, ahead of locals.
“Even former colonial leader, Mr Ian Smith laughed at us after Independence. He said if whites had known that Zimbabweans just wanted political power and offices, there would have been no war. He said they would have just given Zimbabweans the offices and kept the wealth,” said Cde Tshuma.
He said Zanu-PF had embarked on the indeginisation programme to empower locals after realising that foreigners were exploiting the country’s resources yet the owners of resources were wallowing in abject poverty.
The indeginisation programme has been applauded by experts for creating jobs on the back of genuine wealth, creating a black middle class with majority share-holding in foreign owned companies.
It has resulted in the Community Share Ownership Scheme Trusts that have seen communities getting a 10 percent stake in business that exploit natural resources in their areas.
Through the schemes, communities have been able to fund development projects such as construction of schools, clinics, bridges, drilling boreholes and establishing irrigation schemes.
Foreign based companies, especially mines, were in the habit of “harvesting” minerals and shipping them off to their countries of origin with communities getting nothing.
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