Indigenisation Move Turns Sour For Zanu –PF Youth Militia
Masvingo, December 31, 2011 -The controversial black empowerment and
indigenisation policy fronted by Zanu-PF has backfired to its youth militias
in Chiredzi who have been summoned to court after they forcibly grabbed
three buildings in the sugar estate town owned by white people.
About ten Zanu –PF youths were last week served by letters instructing them
to appear before a Chiredzi magistrate facing charges of invading private
property and malicious damage to property after they went on the rampage in
September destroying properties in the buildings they forcibly grabbed.
The boisterous youths took over the properties after they accused the three
white men, Jan Van Javeert who owns South East Turning company, Graig
Hanning ‘s building and Govan investments building owned by Southhood Govan
of failing to complying with the Indigenization Act that demands foreign
business to cede 51%n to the locals.
The rowdy Zanu –PF youth group, Masvingo Youths Empowerment Association
(MAYEA), who said they were supporting youth Minister Savoiur Kasukuwere who
is the brains behind the controversial policy and law, could be jailed
after their action turned nasty after they were served with court summons.
Zanu –PF deputy national political commissar for the youth wing, Talent
Majoni who was also served with the letter after leading the property grab
confirmed the latest development to Radio VOP.
“It’s true that we have been served with summons to appear in court in
Chiredzi for allegedly taking those buildings in September. Right now I can’t
give the actual dates of the court case as I am travelling to Chiredzi to
collect my summons but my colleagues called me after receiving theirs and
they have mine also.
“ They want to arrest us for taking what is rightfully ours, this is a set
back to the empowerment drive spearheaded by our party Zanu-PF , we are
going to fight this and make sure that the drive moves ahead in the
province,” said Majoni.
Majoni said they will be getting the assistance of their party lawyers and
give details of all the members who have been served with summons but
pointed out that they could be over ten.
The youth militia group had sent panic across the province as other white
business hurriedly closed while other were living in fear of losing their
companies after announcing that they will be pouncing on bigger firms.
The group was targeting giant sugar producing companies, Hippo Valley and
Triangle in the low veld district of Chiredzi, Renco gold mine in Masvingo
south and Africa’s biggest and sole Lithium producers, Bikita Minerals.