Kasukuwere warns of violent company grab

He made the remarks here while addressing officials from the province’s mines at a meeting organised under his ministry’s community and employee share ownership programme.

The meeting was in preparation for an occasion scheduled for November 23 where all top mining companies in the province, including Unki Mine, MIMOSA, Murowa Diamonds and ZIMASCO, would be compelled to hand over 10% of their shares to local communities. The event, to be held in Shurugwi, will be presided over by President Robert Mugabe.

Kasukuwere Said: “After ensuring that communities own shares in mines in their localities, we will turn to the black employees. If they refuse to cooperate in the programme by agreeing to have shares from their employers, we will force them to do that. It is the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens.”

He added that his ministry no longer has time for deliberations with companies failing to accept the indigenisation regulations, which require foreign firms to surrender 51% of their shares to locals.

“This is no longer time for talks. It’s now time for action,” Kasukuwere said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC have opposed his indigenization programme, saying it scares away potential investors.

Leaders of the mines who had been summoned to the meeting neither denied nor fully agreed that they will be ready to surrender stakes on the scheduled date.

Anglo Platinum Chairman July Ndlovu said his company only started producing this year and was still in talks with government.

Edward Mazorodze, the Business Services Manager for Murowa Diamonds said:

“We understand the community should benefit from our operations. We are working on the issue to have our concerns considered in the issue.”

MIMOSA Managing Director Winston Chitando said he hoped his company would soon negotiate an agreeable solution with the government.