(ZWNEWS) No, I can’t take such racism - Kasukuwere

No, I can’t take such racism: Kasukuwere
Sunday Mail Reporter
Monday 29 March, 2010

Walked out of the meeting after Hawkins likened the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act to apartheid law

Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and black empowerment activists on Friday stormed out of a meeting with white entrepreneurs over what they termed “racist and backward” comments made by economist Professor Tony Hawkins. The meeting had been organised by a group of mainly white entrepreneurs to discuss the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Kasukuwere said it was shocking that there were still some elements in society who were blatantly racist and against the empowerment of the black majority in Zimbabwe. He said he had walked out of the meeting after Prof Hawkins likened the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act to apartheid law.

“Mr Hawkins made some ludicrous comments which I considered racist and backward. “He basically implied that the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act was a worthless piece of legislation. It is obvious that his interests are only to protect the white people and he is not interested in the empowerment of the black majority. That is not acceptable,” he said.

Minister Kasukuwere said he was surprised by Mr Hawkins’ remarks, adding that he had hoped that the forum would be interactive and informative.

“I was shocked that they chose to take a racist stance at such a meeting which was meant to be interactive and informative,” he said. Cde Kasukuwere told the chairman of the meeting, Mr David Harrison, that he had been insulted at the forum, adding that despite the unfortunate incident, his ministry would continue to seek dialogue over the new law.

“We always look for amicable discussions and we are willing to engage with all stakeholders over the law because it affects the majority of Zimbabweans,” he said. Cde Kasukuwere said the Government would not go back on the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act as it was part of its broad agenda to uplift the status of the majority.

“We are going ahead and we will not be deterred,” he said.

The meeting, which was held at a Harare hotel, was organised by Human Resources (Pvt) Limited managing director Mr Harrison and attracted mainly white managers, amongst other stakeholders. Minister Kasukuwere told Mr Harrison that he had been insulted and advised him to “invite me when you have mobilised sober people”.

Affirmative Action Group (AAG) secretary-general Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said officials from his organisation also walked out of the meeting in solidarity with the minister after taking note of the allegedly racist intentions of the convention.

“We walked out in solidarity with the minister because we realised that it was a racist convention. It was most unfortunate that Mr Harrison appeared to support Professor Hawkins’ statements. We walked out before we presented our paper,” he said.

He said although they were major proponents of black empowerment and chief lobbyists during the crafting of the legislation, the AAG still welcomed engagement and criticism of the new law. Both Mr Harrison and Prof Hawkins could not be reached for comment yesterday. The Government passed the indigenisation law to empower the black majority. The law stipulates that all local companies worth over US$500 000 should cede 51 percent of their shareholding to indigenous black Zimbabweans and there are timeframes for this.