Trusted sources who attended a recent meeting held at Davis Hall in Bulawayo told SW RadioAfrica correspondent Lionel Saungweme that Kasukuwere said Indians should not be able to run shops in Zimbabwe while there are many black youths without business opportunities.
“Kasukuwere is not aware that a lot of Indians actually participated in the liberation struggle and were in ZAPU and ZIPRA structures. In fact during Gukurahundi, Joshua Nkomo actually hid at the home of an Indian friend,” Saungweme said.
He added that Kasukuwere is recommending the kind of disastrous takeovers that took place in Uganda under Idi Amin, when Indians were forced out of the country after being accused of owning too many businesses and mistreating the locals. Uganda’s economy collapsed soon after and never recovered.
The Indigenisation Minister also promised the ZANU PF youth they would get loans under the government’s Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (DIMAF) scheme, which was initiated by government to help businesses in Bulawayo and other areas that have been ignored since independence. But so far the loans have been granted mostly to businesses in Harare.
“Kasukuwere told them to re-submit their applications for DIMAF loans and he would make sure they were availed to all youths in Bulawayo,” Saungweme said, adding this was clearly part of ZANU PF’s election strategy, aimed at increasing support from youth in Bulawayo.
The Minister was later embarrassed at a Business Forum in Lobengula when he failed to answer questions relating to Matabeleland. Our correspondent said he was “grilled” on DIMAF by Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga, Secretary General of the MDC-N.
“Kasukuwere failed to answer the questions on issues to do with Matabeleland and it showed he is very disconnected with what is happening on the ground,” Saungweme said.
Gangs of ZANU PF youth have taken over council owned properties in Harare and other cities and are collecting revenue that should be going to local authorities. The youths have also taken over privately owned buildings, knowing the police have no power to evict them.
Unfortunately, this so-called empowerment has driven away potential foreign investors who fear their businesses will one day be taken over by gangs of ZANU PF youth, with support from top officials like Kasukuwere. – SW Radio Africa News
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