Manicaland marginalised in empowerment drive

Columnists
Allow me to express my concerns and pose a pertinent question to the champions of the indigenisation and empowerment process. It seems as if they have redefined an indigenous person in Zimbabwe or they have decided to exclude the whole province of Manicaland. 

Recently, President Robert Mugabe launched the community trust to hold Zimplats  shares on behalf of the people of Ngezi, Zvimba and Mhondoro. Manicaland has been on  local and international news headlines over its Chiadzwa diamond fields.

 

Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi estates were also in the news for the new ethanol plant yet the proponents of the indigenisation process have remained mum on empowering the local people in these areas.

 

Does that mean the people around Chiadzwa do not also deserve to own a percentage of shares in companies involved in mining Marange diamonds? Why contract Rautenbach to farm in Chisumbanje when Arda and locals are already doing so? The government should have let Rautenbach build his ethanol plant and allow the local people to farm and supply the sugar cane to him to process into ethanol.

 

I believe, in this case, the government has shifted the goal-posts to marginalise the Manicaland people. In fact, Manicaland has been marginalised for some time now. For example, there is still not even one state university in Manicaland yet it is the springboard of the Zimbabwean economy.

 

I am questioning Youth Development and Indigenisation minister, Saviour Kasukuwere’s seriousness in implementing the indigenisation process if he is overlooking such obvious areas where the law should take its course. Empowerment should be seen to cover the whole country and all communities if it is to be viewed as a national scheme for the good of all Zimbabweans.

 

Obey Mawoneke, Gweru.