The rift has led to the postponement of the community share ownership trust in Masvingo, supposed to be launched by President Robert Mugabe last month.
Politburo member Mavhaire has caused a storm by saying the indigenization law, under which all foreign-owned companies are forced to cede 51 percent of their shares to locals, should not apply to Bikita minerals as he is already a shareholder there.
Some party stalwarts here have questioned the truth of his claims, with Mangwana leading the chorus to have the former governor probed in order for him to reveal where he got the money to buy the shares.
“I have been sitting on the board of this mining company long back and later I bought shares in the company therefore I do not see any reason why some people would continue to talk of getting shares,” says Mavhaire, who was governor and resident minister for Masvingo province in the 1980s.
Mangwana has accused him of being a front for white owners who do not want to comply with the law, and called for a forensic audit to find out if he ever paid a cent for the shares, and if so to prove the source of the funds.
“He should tell everyone where he got that money from. Our indigenization laws will be useless if we have people who continue to protect whites at the expense of the general blacks who toiled to have this country liberated,” said Mangwana.
The rift has prompted President Robert Mugabe and Indigenization Minister Savior Kasukuwere to postpone the community share ownership scheme. Sources said Mugabe wants Mavhaire probed since he is not in good books with the former governor, who caused a stir in the early 1990s when he moved a motion in parliament calling on Mugabe to relinquish power. He was later suspended from the party for three years. He is currently the secretary for production in the politburo while Mangwana, a former cabinet minister, is the Chivi Central legislator and COPAC co-chairperson.
Post published in: News