(Last Updated on December 14, 2012 by CORRESPONDENT)
Zimbabwe- MDC-T will reverse the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive that Government has embarked on if it forms the next Government.
Party secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti made the revelations during a live debate on StarFM radio on Wednesday evening.
“(MDC-T Government) will review the entire Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act so that it is not about percentages,” said Minister Biti.
“We will allow a law that ensures that there is genuine empowerment in Zimbabwe, children are going to school, hospitals are coming. It is not about figures.
“It is about ensuring that everyone is participating. The 51/49 percent is a wrong concept. That is why you only find that model here in Zimbabwe. You don’t find it in South Africa. The BEE in South Africa is totally different.”
He said empowering the people by giving them jobs, education, information and communication technology was key.
Zanu-PF Secretary for Indigenisation who is also the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Saviour Kasukuwere who was also on the programme said it was clear the MDC-T wanted to reverse the empowerment of Zimbabweans.
“Zimbabweans must not have any doubt about where the MDC-T stands. The cat is out of the bag. When it comes to the empowerment of our people it is genuine empowerment. For us it is just more than a conviction. It is a faith. We believe in empowerment of our people by giving them the opportunities and the resources to succeed,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
He said companies were willing to comply with the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive but were being discouraged by the MDC-T.
“He (Minister Biti) has been blocking banks from empowering the workers. He personally has told Standard Chartered Bank, which came to Zimbabwe willing to comply with the law, and said don’t worry we will change this Government.
“This is the type of creature that we are in. It is unfair to the workers. We are saying let’s find our own solution,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
He also dismissed allegations by Minister Biti that companies that have been donating money for community share ownership schemes were being compelled to do so.