Zanu (PF)’s Mliswa Attacks Indigenisation
Harare, June 22, 2012 – Zanu (PF) official Temba Mliswa on Thursday launched
an astonishing attack on Zimbabwe’s indeginisation programme in the first
indication that President Robert Mugabe’s party is not singing from the same
hymn book on economic empowerment.
Mliswa is believed to be a close associate of Zanu (PF) secretary for
administration Didymus Mutasa.
The former Affirmative Action Group (AAG) also announced the formation of
the Zimbabwe Economic Empowerment Council (ZEEC) that is set to rival the
Zanu (PF) linked empowerment group.
Mutasa had been scheduled to address the launch ceremony of the new
organsiation in Harare but backtracked at the last minute and instead
summoned Mliswa and his group to the Zanu (PF) headquarters for a meeting.
Speaking at the ZEEC launch Mliswa said the indigenisation programme,
spearheaded by a Zanu (PF) politburo member and Youth, Indigenisation
minister Saviour Kasukuwere, had only benefited a few elites in the party.
“We have a problem with the way government is going with the indeginisation
programme,” he said.
“We are concerned that government is not entering into partnerships with
local companies like in the building of toll gates, construction industry,
construction of roads, the energy industry and in the mining sector where
the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation enter into partnership with
Chinese companies,” he said.
“If we want to work with whites, let us come out open and not dine with them
in the dark and scold them during daytime.”
Kasukuwere has been aggressive in forcing foreign owned mining companies to
cede 51 percent of their shares to locals.
But he has not done the same to Chinese firms including Anjin, which
controls a diamond mine in the Marange area.
Mliswa added: “We are left with one big question- are diamonds a blessing or
a curse? Where is the money going?”
He also attacked the land reform programme saying it had left Zimbabweans
poorer.
“We are empowering other African countries by importing food from them- from
the white farmers we chased here- because we are not funding our own
agricultural programmes,” he said.
“The question now is- were we empowered by the land reform or disempowered?”
Mliswa was dragged before the courts for allegedly seizing property owned by
white farmers during the violent land grab led by Zanu PF but was acquitted
of all charges.