(STICKY) (TALKZIMBABWE) Vultures want to stop indigenisation: President Mugabe

Vultures want to stop indigenisation: President Mugabe
TH/TZG
Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:59:00 +0000

THERE are vultures and aggressors bent on destabilising our country and stopping the Government’s indigenisation and empowerment policy and Zimbabweans should remain vigilant, President Mugabe said yesterday. He said, these people were keen on destabilising the unity prevailing in the country through interfering in the internal affairs of the nation.

Addressing thousands of people gathered at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds for 21st February Movement commemorations, President Mugabe said: “We know there are vultures, aggressors, imperialists and neo-imperialists who would want to interfere with our systems.”

The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulations, which operationalise the country’s indigenisation drive, take effect tomorrow.

"The policy, like the land reform programme, was designed to redress the historical imbalances in the ownership of the economy," said the president.

He added that the policy is not meant to nationalise companies but to broaden the ownership of the economy in a manner that recognises the sovereign right of the people of Zimbabwe, and was therefore an opportunity to broaden the country’s industrial base by supporting indigenous entrepreneurs in the production of various goods and services.

“The inclusive process of indigenisation and empowerment encompasses the progressive transformation of the economy through the creation of opportunities that will enable Zimbabweans, including youth, to meaningfully participate in economic activities associated with growth and enterprise development as opposed to redistribution of wealth,” he said.

President Mugabe said the policy was augmenting the theme of this year’s 21st February celebrations.

The celebrations were held under the theme “Promoting Unity in Defence of Natural Resources, Cultural Values and Economic Empowerment”.

He said to achieve the objectives of the policy, the people of Zimbabwe must be united and maintain a culture of oneness.

If the country is united, said President Mugabe, then the people will be able to promote themselves and pass this from one generation to another.

"Resources in the country belong to the people of this country hence it is only indigenous people who can determine how they are used.

“We are saying no, no, no the land is ours, the gold is ours, the uranium and forests and the wildlife are all ours.”

He said the people of Zimbabwe will fight for their resources in the same manner they fought the imperialists to be freed from the yoke of colonial bondage.

President Mugabe said it was up to the people of Zimbabwe to organise themselves so that they can take advantage of the opportunities created by the indigenisation policy.

President Mugabe took a swipe at European countries and the United States for maintaining sanctions against the country.

“Leave us alone and remove those sanctions. Those sanctions are impeding the development of the Government. Why of all countries should Zimbabwe be burdened with sanctions? What sin did Zimbabwe commit? Those who have imposed sanctions, can they tell us?”

The event was attended by First Lady Grace Mugabe and the First Family, Vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo, members of Zanu-PF’s Politburo and Central Committee, members of the diplomatic corps, party supporters and schoolchildren.