Zanu PF youths take over buildings
By Godfrey Mtimba
Saturday, 17 September 2011 16:35
MASVINGO – Rowdy Zanu PF youths on Thursday violently took over three
buildings owned by white businesspeople in Chiredzi accusing them of
refusing to comply with the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act.
The unruly youths said they were moving into the white-owned buildings in
support of Youth Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s
controversial policy that compels foreign businesses to sell 51 percent
shareholding to locals.
About 60 youths operating under a group called the Masvingo Youth
Empowerment Association (Mayea) brought business to a standstill in the
small town of Chiredzi after they went on a rampage — “taking ownership” of
the said buildings.
The three affected businesspeople are Jan Van Javeert, who owns South East
Turning company, Graig Hanning, and Southhood Govan who owns Govan
Investments.
Mayea spokesperson, Darling Zirebwa confirmed the buildings grab to the
Daily News adding that they were targeting buildings owned by foreign whites
in the whole province starting with Chiredzi.
“This is in response to the indigenisation drive, a policy by government
which we feel should also empower the youths. We will be taking more
buildings in Chiredzi before we move to Masvingo city where there are a
whole lot of listed properties we are going to take,” Zirebwa said.
As the youths went on a rampage, police officers watched helplessly.
Zirebwa said some of the buildings they are taking were lying idle and
needed to be utilised by youths who are unemployed.
The controversial youth movement says it was fully backing Kasukuwere for
this policy and will not sit while their ageing leaders in Zanu PF grab
everything and use them in their fight for political power.
“We are sick and tired of being used by these elderly politicians as weapons
of political violence while they loot everything especially under such
policies.
“It’s our time now to be empowered economically. We will make use of the law
to take up firms owned by whites,” he added.
The group said after taking buildings from well-known white investors in the
province, they will be moving to big mines and transnational companies like
Hippo Valley and Triangle, the country’s giant sugar producers as well as
Renco Mine which are the province’s biggest gold producers.
Lithium giant, Bikita Minerals is also said to be a target of the youths’
takeover bid.
Efforts to get comment from the three affected white men were fruitless as
they were said to have skipped the country while one went into hiding as a
result of the move by the youths.
Police in Masvingo declined to comment and referred all questions to their
Headquarters.
“Call the Police General Headquarters. I can’t comment,” said Masvingo
provincial spokesperson, Tinaye Matake.
Talent Majoni, the Zanu PF national youth deputy political commissar
confirmed the grabs and backed the youth for supporting the policy.
“It is true our youths who formed an empowerment organisation moved into
some buildings in Chiredzi on Thursday as part of the policy by Minister
Kasukuwere.
“We are fully behind the youths who are repossessing the wealth ill-gotten
by whites during the colonial era.
“I was advised that so far they took three buildings and the operation is
on-going. It is their time and they will be moving into bigger companies,”
Majoni said.
The move has sent shivers down the spines of other white businesspeople in
the province as panic has gripped them, with some in hurried efforts to
leave the country before they are confronted by the rowdy youths.