The gang of about 60 youths, led by a ZANU PF group called the Masvingo Youths Empowerment Association, stormed the buildings in Chiredzi last week, bringing local business to a standstill. The group was seen toy-toying and singing revolutionary songs while they invaded the premises and declared that the properties were now theirs.
The group invaded the Govan Investments’ building, reportedly owned by Southhood Govan, the Graig Hanning Building and another one belonging to Jan Van Javeert, from the South East Tanning Company. The three white owners are reported to have already left the country. The ZANU PF group meanwhile has threatened to take over other white owned properties in the area.
The Empowerment Association’s spokesman, Darling Zirebwa, is quoted by the Daily News newspaper as saying that the group was targeting all property owned by foreign whites in the whole of Masvingo province, starting with Chiredzi.
“This is in response to the indigenisation drive, a policy by government which we feel should also empower the youths. We will be taking more buildings in Chiredzi before we move to Masvingo city where there are a whole lot of listed properties we are going to take,” Zirebwa is quoted as saying.
A ZANU PF youth official has also warned that these take-overs will not stop in Chiredzi. ZANU PF national youth deputy political commissar Talent Majoni told NewsDay that the youths would also move into the premises of bigger companies, such as sugar conglomerate Tongaat Hulett.
“This is redistribution of wealth. After all, some of these whites acquired the wealth by hook or crook, taking advantage of our ancestors when they colonised us,” said Majoni.
But the MDC-T’s Chiredzi West MP, Moses Mare, told SW Radio Africa on Monday that he “strongly condemns” what has happened, calling it the bevahiour of “thugs masquerading as a legitimate youth movement.”
“These misguided thugs have come from the farms they invaded and are just looking for businesses to loot. They are just looters,” Mare said.
He added: “This is another gimmick of ZANU PF campaigning. It is not a government project. I do not agree with it.”
ZANU PF youths across the country have taken the party-led indigenisation drive to heart, threatening to take over foreign owned businesses and any business owned by perceived MDC supporters. Most recently, in Highfields, the notorious Chipangano gang from Mbare rampaged through the market stalls at Machipisa Shopping Centre, insisting they were taking over the businesses. The group has also threatened businesses in Mbare on a number of occasions this year. – Swradio africa
Post published in: Zimbabwe News