News / National
Minister of Mines warns fake mine indigenisation agents
02 Sep 2012 at 08:46hrs | Views
Prominent farmer Cde Sweet Sweet is embroiled in a bitter wrangle with a white mine owner who claims that Cde Sweet forcibly took over his mining company after claiming to be the official Zanu-PF task leader for indigenisation.
Cde Sweet, who denied the allegations of intimidation and extortion, claims the mine at the centre of the wrangle was legally taken over through the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme. Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu has since dismissed Cde Sweet's claims, saying anyone who was taking over mines while claiming to be a Zanu-PF agent "must be reported to the nearest Zanu-PF offices".
"As the secretary for economic affairs in the Politburo, I can tell you that the party does not condone any haphazard implementation of policies. We have very clear laws in implementing policy. The law does not encourage that type of thing where one extorts shares from gullible businessman.
"The Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment has offices in all provinces to ensure that the indigenisation programme is carried out in a lawful manner. I am aware of people masquerading as Zanu-PF officials who are extorting shares and money from businessman. We are warning these people that we will invoke the law on them," Dr Mpofu said.
According to the mine owner, Mr Lawrence John Cleminson, Cde Sweet approached him in April and threatened to "take him out" if he did not allow some black Zimbabweans including his son, Mr Job Sweet, to become directors of the company, Filiberg Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd.
"Somewhere around mid-April, I received a visit from Sweet Sweet. According to my partners, Allen Kangausaru and Jenkins Mpofu, they were at a meeting at Untu Finance and Melusi Sibanda, the manager, said he knew a girl who could secure CABS loans for young Zimbabweans.
"Apparently, somehow, during this meeting Sweet Sweet, the girl's father, was notified of what we were doing.
"Sweet Sweet said he had been appointed as the official Zanu-PF task leader for indigenisation and he had been instructed to take over my mines," Mr Cleminson said.
Contacted for comment, Cde Sweet said all was above board, adding that the mining company should comply with indigenisation laws.
"All that he is telling you is not true. The Criminal Investigations Department dismissed all his claims. He had already resigned from the company when we came into the picture So, he has no claim to the mines. I did not take over the company. I only assisted in implementing the indigenisation of the mines as a Zanu-PF official," he said.
Cde Sweet, who denied the allegations of intimidation and extortion, claims the mine at the centre of the wrangle was legally taken over through the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme. Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu has since dismissed Cde Sweet's claims, saying anyone who was taking over mines while claiming to be a Zanu-PF agent "must be reported to the nearest Zanu-PF offices".
"As the secretary for economic affairs in the Politburo, I can tell you that the party does not condone any haphazard implementation of policies. We have very clear laws in implementing policy. The law does not encourage that type of thing where one extorts shares from gullible businessman.
"The Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment has offices in all provinces to ensure that the indigenisation programme is carried out in a lawful manner. I am aware of people masquerading as Zanu-PF officials who are extorting shares and money from businessman. We are warning these people that we will invoke the law on them," Dr Mpofu said.
According to the mine owner, Mr Lawrence John Cleminson, Cde Sweet approached him in April and threatened to "take him out" if he did not allow some black Zimbabweans including his son, Mr Job Sweet, to become directors of the company, Filiberg Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd.
"Somewhere around mid-April, I received a visit from Sweet Sweet. According to my partners, Allen Kangausaru and Jenkins Mpofu, they were at a meeting at Untu Finance and Melusi Sibanda, the manager, said he knew a girl who could secure CABS loans for young Zimbabweans.
"Apparently, somehow, during this meeting Sweet Sweet, the girl's father, was notified of what we were doing.
"Sweet Sweet said he had been appointed as the official Zanu-PF task leader for indigenisation and he had been instructed to take over my mines," Mr Cleminson said.
Contacted for comment, Cde Sweet said all was above board, adding that the mining company should comply with indigenisation laws.
"All that he is telling you is not true. The Criminal Investigations Department dismissed all his claims. He had already resigned from the company when we came into the picture So, he has no claim to the mines. I did not take over the company. I only assisted in implementing the indigenisation of the mines as a Zanu-PF official," he said.
Source - SM
