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Cde Nhema

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
The Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Cde Francis Nhema, has said he will be guided by the requirements of the law as he leads the implementation of Government’s empowerment policies meant to uplift the livelihoods of indigenous Zimbabweans.

In an interview with our sister newspaper The Sunday Mail at the weekend, Minister Nhema said the law was clear on the implementation of the programme.

“The whole issue about indigenisation is that we have a law which was passed in Parliament and the law stipulates the various sectors . . . There are about 13 committees that were set up to specify, in each area, the compliance of each sector.

“That is what we will do, we will just follow the law. The law just has to be followed, simple,” he said.
The empowerment programme is being implemented based on the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act that was passed in by Parliament in 2007.

The Act specifies that at least 51 percent equity in companies valued at US$500 000 or above should be in the hands of indigenous Zimbabweans.

While a number of mining firms have moved to comply with the law, the banking sector has resisted. On the sector Minister Nhema reiterated that he would follow the letter and spirit of the law.

“I am new and looking at the law. I don’t deal with speculative reports. If the law says it is a reserved area, then we shall make sure we comply.

“I am not making the law here, but simply implementing what Parliament passed,” said Minister Nhema.
The Minister said his vision was to ensure that every Zimbabwean has an opportunity to take part in any sector they wish to without any hindrances.

“Basically the vision is to make sure that wherever possible everyone is given access to empowerment, that everyone is given the information that leads them to be empowered.

“In most cases, we have to understand that when you educate people you are empowering people. When you give them opportunities everywhere, that is empowerment.

“Basically, we have to say to ourselves, yes, we have set targets which, perhaps are sectoral targets, but in terms of general empowerment, we have to keep empowering ourselves in every sphere,” he said.

The Zanu-PF-led Government has pledged to fulfil its promises contained in the manifesto for the July 31 harmonised elections that it won with a convincing majority.

The manifesto identified indigenisation and economic empowerment as the cornerstone to turn the fortunes of the economy around by involving the majority of Zimbabweans in mainstream economic activity.