Maravi

(HERALD) Citizens must own the country’s resources

Citizens must own the country’s resources

Editor — Last weekend, I was asked to join in the debate on indigenisation. On reflection, I started asking myself whether it is the concept or the approach that is the issue.

No one can fault the concept if Zimbabwean citizens want to have a majority shareholding of their country’s resources. Where the problem arises is whether indigenisation is for all Zimbabwean citizens or just for blacks no matter whether they are citizens or not.

What would make sense would be to allow all citizens to have a majority share-holding in proportion to their numbers in the population.

Malaysia did the same when the Chinese and the British controlled their economy sidelining the majority Malays. But today, the Malays and the Chinese together own the Malaysian economy. They put their heads together to develop the country.

In Zimbabwe, the citizens of this country must also put their heads together to develop this country.

One Chinese leader said: "It did not matter whether the cat was black or white, as long as it catches the mice."

Today, China embraces capitalism guided by its belief in communism. All its citizens participate in the economy, which they control and own.

A visit to the Willowvale industrial area left me shell-shocked. Factories are silent and no sign of economic activity except at the tobacco auction floors where transport of every kind queues up to off load their cargo. What is wrong?

There is no production. You then travel into town, there are all sorts of economic activity but engaged in buying and selling.

If the factories are silent then what is being sold in the city? All are mainly imports from motor spares, electrical gadgets to foodstuffs.

It is just the transfer of US dollars to other countries supplying us with the goods. If the goods are meant for the productive sector, then we can create wealth.

Albert Nhamoyebonde.
Harare.

Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE)

posted by MrK @ 3:52 AM