(NEWZIMBABWE) Kasukuwere: colonial laws blocking empowerment

Thursday, September 20, 2012

(NEWZIMBABWE) Kasukuwere: colonial laws blocking empowerment

Kasukuwere: colonial laws blocking empowerment
19/09/2012 00:00:00
by NewZiana

ZIMBABWE must repeal or amend more than 140 laws which were enacted during the colonial era to impede black empowerment and indigenisation, a cabinet Minister said on Wednesday.

Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere said the laws were stifling smooth economic empowerment of the black majority.

"Some of these laws put by the whites to protect their interests we still use them today.

"There are about 144 laws that stifle easy empowerment of our people as some people and institutions take advantage of them to base their arguments," he said.

Kasukuwere said the government was going to scrutinise the laws for amendments or repeal where necessary.

"I will be taking them to cabinet soon for deliberations. We understand there are some individuals who are opposed to the empowerment programme but that will not deter the government's intention," he said.

He said the laws included the Mines and Mineral Act which allows for the arrest of gold panners.

"On that law the President and cabinet have agreed to some amendments and the Ministry is working on it.

"All those being called illegal miners who are in prisons are going to be released once the amendments are done," he said.

Zimbabwe Indigenous Economic Empowerment Organisation (ZIEEO) president Paddington Japajapa warned that there would be more friction if the laws were not harmonised.

Japajapa said the Urban Councils Act was being used by the Harare City council to issue licences or enter joint ventures with foreigners in the retail sector which was reserved for indigenous people.

He urged the government to stop the city from issuing retail licences to foreigners.

Japajapa added that the Marriages Act was also being used by foreigners to acquire residence and working permits in the country.

"They come and lure our sisters into marriages upon which they acquire permits before dumping them.

"Government should enforce a five or more years before a foreigner is granted a marriage certificate," he said.

Labels: COLONIALISM, INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), SAVIOUR KASUKUWERE