Zimbabwe revises Controversial Empowerment Act
http://www.zimeye.org/?p=15954
By: Gerald Chateta
Posted: Thursday, April 8, 2010
Harare – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said he is next week going to order Youth Development, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Minister Savior Kasukuwere to announce the revised Indigenization and Empowerment Act before the council of ministers which he chairs.
Addressing business people and African Diplomats in Harare on Thursday Prime minister Tsvangirai assured the nation and the world that the controversial Empowerment Act has been revised.
“It is unfortunate that some people want to use politics where it is not necessary. Such statements are just political rhetoric. Next week when Kasukuwere comes back from Kariba I will insist that he present the full
revised edition of the regulations to the council of ministers .He is not going to escape from that, that I assure you.
“Let me assure you that when the new regulations are published ,they will be very different and much more progressive than when originally gazetted. The revised regulations will ensure amongst other changes,
that none is criminalized, there will be no forced accusations and assets will be purchased, not ceded. The regulations will reflect broad based empowerment and ensure that a minority elite does not benefit at the expense of the many who deserve to benefit from our nation’s riches”, Tsvangirai told business people and African ambassadors who were gathered at a local hotel in Harare.
Under the controversial Empowerment Act, foreign owned companies are to cede 51% of their share holding to the local indigenous people.
Kasukuwere is on record for batting that there was no going back in the implementation of the controversial law that has threatened the inclusive government and economic recovery in a country that has seen a decade long
economic decay.
“Those who are opposed to the Act must go and die. We have no reverse gear in our gear box. Journalists please emphasize that Kasukuwere has said 50% in the country’s minerals are for us. If there is an insane Zimbabwean who is opposed to that he must go and die”, Kasukuwere told Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono at a function hosting ANC youth league President Julius Malema at Gono’s Norton farm last Sunday.
Gono though a ZANU-PF activist, is strongly opposed to the Act and has publicly clashed with the Empowerment minister Kasukuwere.