Tag: President Robert Mugabe

‘Hey bakithi, igukurahundi? You had Mugabe, Sekeramayi and Mujuru, not me I know nothing!’-Mnangagwa

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VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has denied accusations he played an active role in the Gukurahundi massacres, which reportedly claimed over 20 000 lives in Matabeleland and Midlands regions in the 1980s.
Speaking in a recent interview with United Kingdom-based magazine New States Man, Mnangagwa said reports linking him to the atrocities were being peddled by his political foes to soil his image.
 
Mnangagwa, who at the time was State Security minister, seemed to pass the buck to President Robert Mugabe, then Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and army commanders for the massacres, which were perpetrated by a North Korean-trained army unit, the Fifth Brigade.Speaking in a recent interview with United Kingdom-based magazine New States Man, Mnangagwa said reports linking him to the atrocities were being peddled by his political foes to soil his image.
 
Mnangagwa, who at the time was State Security minister, seemed to pass the buck to President Robert Mugabe, then Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and army commanders for the massacres, which were perpetrated by a North Korean-trained army unit, the Fifth Brigade.
 
“How do I become the enforcer during Gukurahundi? We had the President, the Minister of Defence, commander of the army and I was none of that. My own enemies attack me left and right and that is what you are buying,” he is quoted as having said.
 
The late General Solomon Mujuru was army commander, while current Airforce of Zimbabwe Commander, Perrance Shiri was Fifth Brigade commander.
 
Mnangagwa was the State Security minister then and is often regarded as the face of the massacres.
 
A recent book by former Education minister, David Coltart also reveals the extent of Mnangagwa’s involvement and alleged hate speech utterances.
 
In the interview, Mnangagwa also denied leading the Team Lacoste faction or harbouring ambitions to succeed Mugabe.
 
“I don’t see myself doing that … I was not serving to be President. I was serving my country,” he said.
 
Mnangagwa scoffed at those praying for Mugabe’s death, as the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence turns 93 next February.
 
“Under British constitutional law, you don’t conceive or desire the demise of Your Majesty. Why would you want to conceive or desire the demise of my President,” he reportedly said.
 
War veterans’ leader, Chistopher Mutsvangwa has insisted that Mugabe should step down and pave way for a new leader.
 
“We need to have a new look at the management of the economy … since he (Mugabe) is the elected President, he has to either deliver on that or make it possible for someone else to deliver on it. We would hope it’s the latter,” he told the magazine.
 
Coltart also seemed to endorse a Mnangagwa presidency, saying the Vice-President is business savvy and understands what needs to be done to save the ailing Zimbabwean economy suffering from a blistering liquidity crisis.
 
“For all his historical problems, he understands the running of the economy better than Mugabe, better than most Zanu PF politicians,” he said. source-newsday

‘In spite of national poverty, Mugabe splashes over US$1,3 million on a diamond ring for his wife Grace.’

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A sceptical nation never believed that, but was willing to give Mugabe and his wife the benefit of doubt.

After all, Zimbabwe is in economic doldrums and it would make sense that Mugabe is not wealthy, as the country’s poor and overburdened taxpayer is responsible for his upkeep.However, it is shocking that in spite of this pretense to poverty, Mugabe is willing to splurge over $1,3 million on a diamond ring for his wife.

A sceptical nation never believed that, but was willing to give Mugabe and his wife the benefit of doubt.

After all, Zimbabwe is in economic doldrums and it would make sense that Mugabe is not wealthy, as the country’s poor and overburdened taxpayer is responsible for his upkeep.

However, it is shocking that in spite of this pretense to poverty, Mugabe is willing to splurge over $1,3 million on a diamond ring for his wife.

While, Mugabe has every right to buy his wife a 20-year wedding anniversary gift, we find it shattering that the President can chose to be this extravagant when the country is in such an economic mess.

There are a million things Mugabe could have done with that money to help a country that is bearing the brunt of his failed economic policies.

Right now, millions of Zimbabweans are relying on donors for their survival, thanks to a drought, and Mugabe would have done well to use some of his money to feed the hungry people.

How Mugabe and Grace choose to exhibit such opulence, when the rest of the country is suffering is beyond belief.

We have always argued that Zimbabwe’s problem is the failure by those in power to get their priorities straight, and this is a glaring example of leadership failure.

It feels like a heavy slap across the face for most Zimbabweans that they are forced to cut down on spending, yet the author of their misery continues living a lavish lifestyle.

This episode will not help Grace’s image anyhow, as she has a reputation for being the “First Shopper”, with an insatiable desire for all things expensive.

However, what makes this leave a bitter taste in the mouth is Grace’s claim that her husband is poor and is in debt.

Zimbabweans know what poverty and debt are, and definitely these do not involve spending $1,3 million on a diamond ring.

This makes many wonder how much the First Family is spending on other trinkets that do not come out into the public domain.

We are living in the age of austerity and the right thing for the Mugabes to do is cut down on their spending in empathy and in solidarity with the rest of the country.

To many, this shows that they are out of touch with the rest of the country, where they can spend as much as they want, while Zimbabweans bear the brunt of the economic meltdown.

Chiwenga, to be granted special powers when he assumes the office of VP of Zimbabwe soon, to help his imminent boss, VP Mnangagwa

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COLOGNE – Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga, is set to be granted special powers when he assumes the office of Vice President of Zimbabwe any day from now, to help his imminent boss, VP Emmerson Mnangagwa, all but about to become the second republic leader to stabilise the political and economic situation in the country ahead of the 2018 presidential and parliamentary elections, Spotlight Zimbabwe reported.
The disclosures come at a time when there is growing social unrest and discontent, characterised by street protests and demonstrations by rights activists, as political analysts are warning that Harare risks becoming a failed regime, due to the country’s multiple social and economic woes bedeviling the populace.

Also President Robert Mugabe’s exit from office, might trigger stratospheric political chaos and civil disorder, breeding fears of anarchy as people are “going to be tempted to test the powers” of any incoming regime after Mugabe, government insiders said yesterday.

According to a current serving cabinet minister, with knowledge about the behind the scenes developments, Chiwenga is going to be vested with more responsibilities to manage, the security element of the new government, whose tenure is expected to be shortlived.

Opponents opposed to Mnangagwa taking over the presidency, have raised alarm that his administration if it comes to power, will give birth to a securocrat state. A securocratic state is one in which the military-security apparatus is a dominant factor in the power complex that is the state.

“Traditionally vice presidents in our country are largely ceremonial,” said the minister this week. “They do not have well defined powers other than assisting the President. However as an incoming first vice president, the General (Chiwenga) is going to have special powers in government directed at managing security ministries, therefore he shall enjoy symbolic executive power, as determined by the new president.”

Zimbabwe’s main security ministries, include defence, home affairs and state security. Ministers Sydney Sekeramayi, Ignatius Chombo and Kembo Mohadi lead the crucial portfolios respectively.

The minister said Chiwenga will not find it difficult to deliver, as he has been a key member of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) for many years.

JOC is a shadowy quasi military organ, bringing together the country’s military-security complex which includes the army, and its military intelligence wing and Presidential Guard, Air Force, police, prisons and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to manage homeland security affairs.

Author Robert I. Rotberg in a book titled Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators says if reforms fail Harare becomes a failed state. “In most failed states, regimes prey on their own constituents. Driven by ethnic or other intercommunal hostility, or by the governing elite’s insecurities, they victimize their own citizens or some subset of the whole that is regarded as hostile. As in Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire or the Taliban’s Afghanistan, ruling cadres increasingly oppress, extort, and harass the majority of their own compatriots while privileging a more narrowly-based party, clan, or sect.”

Spotlight Zimbabwe was the first media publication in the country to break the story of Chiwenga’s pending shock elevation to be first vice president on 18 March 2016.

Zimbabwe has never had a vice president, taking over from an incumbent leader since Independence from Britain in 1980. Closer to us across the Limpopo, Thabo Mbeki, then vice president during Nelson Mandela’s reign managed to succeed him in 1999, as promotion to his appointment as deputy president in 1994.

Former VP Joice Mujuru appointed into office in 2004, was within a whisker of succeeding Mugabe but was unceremoniously kicked out of power in 2014. by Itai Mushekwe Source – spotlight

Zimbabwe’s Acting Prosecutor General, orders the arrest of Professor Jonathan Moyo

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The Acting Prosecutor General Advocate Ray Goba is keen to expedite the arrest of the accused Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Advocate Ray Goba, has gone ahead and directed the Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to swiftly complete all the relevant paperwork relating to Professor Jonathan Moyo so he can be hauled to court to answer charges of corruption, money laundering and abusing approximately US$500 000 of Zimbabwe Development Fund (Zimdef).

The Acting Prosecutor General is convinced that there is a strong case against the Professorand he should be charged with defeating the course of justice through his c public conduct and utterances which are allegedly adequate testimony of his guilt. In a matter of public interest, the Acting Prosecutor General therefore has directed that within 48 hours of issuing his directive on the Police Commissioner General, the police crime docket relating to Professor Moyo should be completed as Jonathan Moyo and his subordinates are guilty.

This could be a breakthrough that the nation needs as it will force Jonathan Moyo, into defensive mode to divulge all the corruption by Zanu PF stalwarts, Securocrats and senior government officials including the president himself. Remember Jonathan Moyo is not a people’s favourite, being the man behind the draconian AIPPA and POSA which together destroyed independant media, led to the torture and arrests of journalists and forced many journalists into exile, while sealing off the ruraral areas from opposition and activists access for campaigns.

Jonathan Moyo, is also the man behind the Zanu pf ‘NIKUV’ manifesto for 31st July 2013. At a time when Mugabe was teetering on leaving office and Zanu pf losing the election as Democrats were set to take over, Jonathan Moyo swiftly changed that by breathing life into a dying out Zanu PF regime. Today, Zimbabwe is on its knees due to a collapsed economy, collapsed agriculture, massive corruption, no Service Delivery in Housing, Education, Employment, transports and other key areas all stemming from Jonathan Moyo’s misguided allegiance to his master, President Robert Mugabe, who unfortunately this time seems unable to stop the empire from collapsing on top of Jonathan Moyo,…sit back and enjoy the free show,..DISCUSS! By Sibusiso Ngwenya

Generation 40 (G40) media onslaught on VP Mnangagwa has some of its kingpins openly showing tribal hate against the Vice President

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A controversial Zanu PF youth member Energy Mutodi has described the hatred that the G40 faction believed to be led by First Lady Grace Mugabe for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as tribal oriented.
 
In an article he posted on Facebook Mutodi said a faction in Zanu PF known by the name Generation 40 (G40) has continued its media onslaught on Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa with some of its kingpins openly showing tribal hate against the Vice President and even going further by declaring that they will not support his bid to succeed President Mugabe (92) whenever he retires from office.
 
“This comes in the face of other nationalists of President Robert Mugabe’s time having passed on the baton to their deputies; the latest being Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos who has announced that he will not stand for re-election in 2018 and has endorsed his deputy as his successor.
Others who voluntarily left office by peacefully relinquishing power to their deputies include Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Seretse Khama of Botswana and Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya just to mention a few,” he said.
 
“In contrast to his peers, President Mugabe is reluctant to come out clearly about who he will endorse as his successor, a situation that puts him at risk of being removed from office by force. With endless infighting within his ruling ZANU PF party and a poor performing economy marked by unprecedented joblessness, company closures, corruption and high levels of poverty; anger against President Mugabe’s government is heating up and recently the military has voiced its displeasure over his government’s interference with the judiciary that has seen some ministers going scot-free in-spite of their corrupt activities.”
 
He said the War veterans have also warned that any resolution against Mnangagwa will result in bloodshed and their views have wide acceptance in the security forces.
 
“Even more telling of the serious consequences that may obtain if Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed President Mugabe is blocked is the recent failure by Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Dickson Mafios to railroad a G40 faction resolution intending to remove Mnangagwa from office under the guise of wanting to achieve gender parity in the presidium,” Mutodi said.
 
“While the notorious resolution has been rumored to be emanating from President Mugabe himself who feel that his life presidency is under threat if Mnangagwa remains in the presidium, it has betrayed a wanton constitutional flip flop behavior that leaves the party vulnerable to short-sighted decisions and adverse absence of the rule of law.”
 
He said the Zanu PF party introduced a constitutional amendment to accommodate a female Vice President in the year 2004 so as to block Mnangagwa and pave way for Joice Mujuru.
 
He said the same provision was amended again in 2014 when a one-center-of-power clause was introduced to allow the dismissal of Joice Mujuru and the elevation of Mnangagwa.
 
“This time again, the now famously termed Mafios declaration is proposing to scrap the one-center-of-power clause and revert back to the 2004 constitution again to do another blow to Mnangagwa who has stood by the side of the President for more than 52 years. It is in view of the unfairness of these constitutional changes that war veterans who are a reserve force and are closely linked to the military have warned that any declaration against Mnangagwa will have serious consequences,” he said.
 
“The war veterans have refused to be regarded as a mere affiliate organization to Zanu PF, claiming they were the ones who popularized Mugabe and entrusted him with the leadership of the party when the late nationalist Ndabaningi Sithole’s leadership faltered. They have demanded that Mugabe reconfigures his politburo and appoint one of their own to be political commissar; arguing that the current political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere is thuggish and has divisive tendencies that have led to the party’s disintegration in the recent years.”
 
Mutodi said a close look at the war veterans statements that are suspected to be the same views as those of the military imply that while President Mugabe may have been tempted to listen to flip floppers and political cowards who deserted the liberation struggle for their own selfish educational pursuits, he may have in the process lost the confidence of the military who at any time are capable of removing him from office by force.
 
“Already, a cartel of sinior military and police officers has attained doctorates from KwaZulu Natal University and other institutes of higher learning and remain optimistic that a Mnangagwa presidency will open up chances for them into cabinet and the presidium. In addition, a number of Karanga professionals who feel that President Mugabe’s rule has mainly promoted members of his Zezuru tribe while ignoring all other tribes is itching to see Mugabe out of power so that their time can also come obviously through one of their own; Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” he said.
 
“In the wake of the current uncertainties confronting the party and the continued economic decline that has resulted in numerous demonstrations and poor government approval by citizens, it may be clever for President Mugabe to use the forthcoming December conference to announce his retirement from active politics; having been in power for more than three decades. It may be a time to say thank you to the Zanu PF family that has given him a long time to rule. Alternatively, he may announce that he will no longer be standing for re-election in 2018, a gesture that will serve his image as a revolutionary.”
 
Mutodi said he has been accused by opposition figures as a man who built a handsome legacy of liberation and nationalism based on Marxist ideologies but went on to destroy the same through poor policies that have ruined the country’s once vibrant economy.
Source – Byo24News

‘We love Mugabe, but accept it’s time for him to step down. Like Castro , handed over power, Mugabe must do the same’-Malema.

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President Robert Mugabe has been implored to step down and allow other Zimbabweans to take over from him, South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said on Monday.

The Julius Malema led outfit said political power should not have to be taken to the grave.

“We believe that the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, should take a lesson and accept that other Zimbabweans can also lead whilst maintaining and sustaining his great legacy.

“He must give way and not set an example that if one does the things he did for Zimbabwean people, like land expropriation, then one must stay in power till death,” read part of the statement.

Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980.

His spokesperson George Charamba on Monday told local media that Mugabe (92) is not contemplating retiring soon.

Zanu PF has long picked Mugabe to be the party’s presidential candidate in 2018 elections.

Added the EFF, “Political power should not have to be taken to the grave. Great political leadership in the continent ought to live to see others lead the country to demonstrate to the whole world that theirs is an immovable legacy as Fidel Castro of Cuba did. In addition, this allows them to also give guidance and counsel,”.

Last week, Malema made headlines after he called on Mugabe to step down, saying it was time for the Zimbabwean leader “to go”.

“We love Robert Mugabe for who he is, although we accept it’s time for him to step down.

“Like Castro did, handing over power to his brother, President Mugabe must do the same,”. Source – Byo24News

‘Zhuwao failed to interpret indigenisation law, a development that has resulted in investor flight’-Zanu PF MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena,

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A ZANU PF MP has blasted Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao, accusing him of failing to interpret the country’s indigenisation laws thereby precipitating an investor flight that has exacerbated the country’s economic collapse.
Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena, who is also chairperson of a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, said Zhuwao worsened the country’s economic collapse by threatening to close down companies that failed to comply with the Indigenisation law.
 
Wadyajena was presenting his committee’s report during a pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo on Friday.
 
“The Minister set unrealistic dates for compliance and then went on to threaten the shutdown of companies that did not meet the deadlines,” he said.
 
“Not only was this highly irresponsible but it added to the scepticism of the investment community about the government’s seriousness on attracting meaningful investment.”
 
Wadyajena immediately called on government to amend the controversial law, saying the statute in its current form did not inspire investment confidence but capital flight.
 
He said the law must be amended to ensure clarity as Zhuwao had failed to interpret it, a development that has resulted in investor flight, forcing President Robert Mugabe to immediately intervene and clarify the law.
 
“The country is in a mess because of the highly irresponsible’ actions by Zhuwao who threatened company closures of failure to comply,” he said.
 
“The relevant legislation must be amended to reflect the clear position that the President has put forward. This is the only way to indicate that we mean business on policy consistency. Accordingly, relevant spokespersons must communicate within the confines of the law and not based on conjecture.”
 
He added: “His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, had to clarify the policy a third time after Honourable minister Zhuwao failed to interpret and understand the legislation and openly contradicted the Minister of Finance (Patrick Chinamsa) and the Governor of the Reserve Bank (John Mangudya) thereby causing confusing and capital flight.”
 
Mugabe was compelled in April this year to clarify the indigenisation law after Zhuwao and Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa were involved in a public spat over the law. Zhuwao, who had given companies deadlines to submit
indigenisation compliance proposals, clashed with Chinamasa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya on how to indigenise the banking financial services sector.
 
This forced Mugabe into action, admitting conflicting positions on how to implement the country’s black empowerment legislation had caused confusion to potential investors, and needed to be put to rest.
 
But despite Mugabe’s clarification, Wadyajena said the indigenisation law in its present form needed amendment. By Nqobani Ndlovu. source-newsday

Mujuru files Con Court challenge to Presidential decree providing a legal framework for bond notes legality

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Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru has gone to the Constitutional Court to challenge the legality of a Presidential decree providing a legal framework for the introduction of bond notes as legal tender.

President Mugabe issued a decree this week authorising the introduction of bond notes, which are expected to ease the liquidity crunch gripping the country.

Dr Mujuru filed her application in the Constitutional Court on Friday and listed President Mugabe, Parliament, Finance and Economic Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya and Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya as respondents.

She wants an order declaring that President Mugabe, by exercising Parliament’s primary law-making power through Statutory Instrument 133 of 2016, failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations to obey certain provisions of the Constitution.

She also wants the regulations to be nullified for want of fulfilling the constitutional obligations.”First respondent (President Mugabe) has a constitutional obligation to uphold, defend, obey and respect this Constitution as the supreme law of the nation and must ensure that this Constitution and all other laws are faithfully observed,” she stated in her affidavit.

She contends that President Mugabe has no constitutional authority to make statutory instruments and amend Acts of Parliament.

The President, she further avers, should also ensure that none of his ministers make statutory instruments that amend Acts of Parliament.

“In breach of that constitutional obligation he (President Mugabe) has made SI 133/2016,” she argues. “As the SI 133/2016 has been made contrary to a constitutional obligation, it is a nullity.”

Dr Mujuru also argues that instead of resorting to the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act (Chap 10:20), President Mugabe has a duty to initiate legislation to repeal the statute. “As Head of State, he ought to allow Parliament to do its work,” she says.

“Given that his Government finalised this policy in May 2016, why did he not allow the passage of a Bill in Parliament? Be that as it may, a repeal is superfluous because those of its provisions that contradict the Constitution are void.” source bulawayo24

Stanley Goreraza former husband to Zimbabwe First Lady Grace Mugabe,decides to tell it all in a book

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Stanley Goreraza is former husband to Zimbabwe First Lady Grace Mugabe, and he has been in news recently following uncharacteristic outburst against President Mugabe whom he accuses for snatching his wife in a spectacular smash-and- grab operation that has permanently ruined his life, according to his latest posts online.
 
While many are questioning Goreraza’s state of mind, the foreign based Airforce of Zimbabwe Wing Commander has revealed that he has been through a lot since he separated with Grace that he no longer cares.
 
In an exclusive interview with an online based news publication, Goreraza also revealed that he has since decided to write a book that would say everything about how ex-wife, Grace, was snatched from him.
 
Many high ranking Zimbabwe politicians are aware of Goreraza’s predicament and they follow him on social media and recently he got thumbs up from Tendai Biti who said “Wow this man has a story he is dying to tell.”
 
After Grace, Goreraza later remarried and then divorced his second wife Tamara Mary last year, on 2 December 2015, according to Harare court records.
 
While the contents of the ‘soon to be published book’ are not yet known, it is clear that Goreraza is a bitter man going through hard times.
 
There are rumours that Grace was snatched from Goreraza, then a junior air force officer by Mugabe, before he was banished to China as a defence attaché where he has been based for more than two decades.
 
Mugabe insists that Grace was a divorcee when he started dating her while his late Ghanaian wife, Sally, was battling with a kidney problem that eventually killed her in 1992.
 
Despite this, Goreraza message does not focus much on his personal life but rather on President Mugabe in relation to political developments in Zimbabwe;
 
“Every nation destroyed is led into destruction by those leading it. Every nation that suffers is led into that suffering by its leaders. If a leader has no kindness and goodness in his heart, there will be no good in the nation he leads. What is in the hearts of a nation’s leaders can be seen by the situation of that country,” he says in his recent message.
 
“If the people of that nation suffer, then it’s leaders can only be merciless and cruel. Greed and hatred have created fertile conditions for war in Zimbabwe and only by God’s wonderful grace have we skipped that chapter,” he added.
 
Mr Goreraza commands a lot of respect on social media and is friends with lawyer Alex Magaisa, Luke Tamborinyoka, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson and opposition politician Tendai Biti. Source-newsday.co.uk

JACOB ZUMA tells Mugabe: ‘SA businesses willing to invest if Zim cleans, murky investment policy and indigenisation law’

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PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday came face-to-face with reality after visiting South African President Jacob Zuma demanded more clarity on the country’s investment policy.

Zuma said Mugabe government’s dithering on the easy of doing business, security for investors and indigenisation policy could prove costly for Zimbabwe.

Mugabe has consistently scoffed at the suggestion by the West to improve the investment climate arguing it was part of a “regime change agenda against his administration”.

But Zuma, facing growing unrest in his country, told Mugabe that South African businesses were willing to invest only if the Zimbabwean leader dealt with the murky investment policy.

Zuma added he was worried about issues of economic “policy consistency and the easy of doing business”.

Zuma made the remarks in Harare during the official opening of the inaugural Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).

The BNC is the successor to the Joint Commission, a platform where the two countries discuss bilateral issues ranging from the economy, security to social agreements.

“Our business community stands ready to play their party if, as government, you improve the ease of doing business and policy certainty,” Zuma candidly told a bemused Mugabe.

Many investors have been sceptical about investing in Zimbabwe after the government started implementing the indigenisation law that compels all foreign companies to cede 51% of their shareholding to locals. Mugabe’s haphazard land reform programme has also been blamed for investor flight and indecision.

The toxic empowerment law also has clauses that reserve specific sectors for locals while foreigners can only operate such businesses with a special licence.

Mugabe, in an earlier address, had assured Zuma that South African investments were safe in Zimbabwe. This was contrary to reports that some South African investors, including others protected under the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements, especially in the tourism and agricultural sector, were expropriated.

“I want to assure South African businesspeople that their investments are safe here in Zimbabwe. We wish to see more South African investments here as much as we wish to also see more Zimbabwean investment in South Africa,” Mugabe said.

“The empowerment programmes we are implementing in our respective countries have graduated to a new class of businesspersons who should be empowered for the national and regional market.”

Mugabe, however, bemoaned the aborting of the business forum that should have been held on the sidelines of the BNC.

“It is regrettable that the Business Forum, involving business representatives from Zimbabwe and South Africa, was, due to some logistical problems, not held as part of the programme of this inaugural session of the BNC. The Business Forum should become an integral feature of our BNC sessions in future,” Mugabe said.

Zuma immediately flew back to South Africa after the address, where his political life was hanging by the thread as opposition parties there were demanding his resignation.

Mugabe took the chance to poke fun at his colleague about his uncertain political situation. source-newsday

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