Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Gono creating two centres of power

Gono creating two centres of power
18/07/2012 00:00:00
by Kurai Prosper Masenyama

AS THE battle between former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma for the throne of the African National Congress reached its climax, debate shifted to the pros and cons of having “two centres of power”.

However, while the South African case was a clear fight argued in terms of policy formulation (a preserve of the Party) and policy implementation (a preserve of the Government), in Zimbabwe a battle of two centres of power is slowly but surely emerging as far as the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme is concerned.

There is a movement fronted by some of the most powerful and influential people in our country. These individuals are fighting the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme in their so called “areas of jurisdiction” and they are determined, for reasons yet unknown, to see the exercise fail.

Quite recently, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono went overboard with his personal but misplaced attack on the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere and National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board Chairman David Chapfika over the indigenisation of the banking sector in Zimbabwe.

Gono believes the pair’s hands are dirty because they were once involved in banks that collapsed. Accordingly, he doesn’t seem to think they are fit and proper persons to talk about let alone indigenise the banking sector.

While debating and contesting each other’s ideas is an obvious imperative that will enrich the development of our revolutionary movement Zanu PF in particular and Zimbabwe as a nation in general, going out to personally attack fellow leaders and comrades-in-arms is a glaring misdeed that cannot be left unchallenged. Besides, what has that got to do with the implementation of the law?

It’s a pity that when Dr Gono offered his Supply and Distribution Indigenisation and Empowerment Model (SADIE) as an alternative to the current comprehensive empowerment model, some of us interrogated it and tackled the thesis not the man.

Sustainable economic empowerment can only be buttressed by the indigenisation of our economic systems across board. Furthermore, SADIE is nothing new but a simplified repetition of part of the indigenisation and economic empowerment policy that already calls for at least 50% of all goods and services needed by government and its agencies to be procured from indigenous businesspeople.

The indigenisation and economic empowerment programme is not a petty personal project but a national project that is being implemented by the government of Zimbabwe. It is a policy conceived, articulated and promoted by Zanu PF as evidenced by its adoption as a theme or part of the theme at various Annual National People’s Conferences over the past ten years.

So, unless and until there is a drastic shift in the thinking and pronouncements of the Party, the policy shall continue to be implemented across all sectors of the economy as directed by the Act.

Thus, any opponent or critic of the programme should direct his/her venom at Zanu PF as the custodians of the policy. Constructive critics should direct their thoughts and energies to feed into the existing policy or if need be call for its refinement within the ambit of the Party department of indigenisation as led by Minister Kasukuwere and Tendai Savanhu.

Alternatively, they can engage the responsible Ministry or NIEEB as the implementing arm. Any submission outside the noted institutions is akin to playing to the gallery, and pushing towards the creation of another centre of power, especially if such is to come from fellow Zanu PF cadres, designed to fight against the implementation of an empowerment programme meant for the benefit of ordinary Zimbabweans.

Two centres of power or contesting centres of power should be given no room in our movement and its representatives in government. This interference, be it in Indigenisation, Tourism, Education, Transport or any other sector is something we can do without.

Indeed ‘the two centres of power’ stifles the implementation of the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme, thus delaying the total, irreversible and sustainable economic emancipation of our people. As has always been advised, what needs to be done is for our investment laws and policies to be revised and harmonised with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

Kasukuwere and his team deserve the same unqualified support from the Party and its supporters similar to the support Gono and his team got when they were at the forefront of trying to shield the economy from the negative effects of the illegal sanctions, fighting inflation, empowering farmers, mechanising agriculture, financing education, housing, transport etc, an endeavour that saw the governor exerting influence and control over various and unrelated sectors of the economy, but for the benefit of the country.

Throwing spanners in what Kasukuwere is trying to do will derail the empowerment programme by confusing our people and delighting the doubting Thomases who think our revolutionary Party cannot overcome petty differences and champion the aspirations of the people, a challenge we have consistently overcome from the battle for independence, battle for land and now to the empowerment programme, our last Chimurenga.

Labels: GIDEON GONO, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE)

posted by MrK @ 2:57 PM