AAG urges Zim to 'embrace community trusts'

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) says Zimbabweans should continue to embrace the community share ownership trusts being rolled out by government as they are an engine for social and economic development.

A significant number of community share ownership trusts, each worth US$10 million have been set up by the government in conjunction with foreign-owned companies under the indigenisation programme.

In addition, US$109 million has been pledged to community trusts as seed capital to promote socio-economic development and empowerment.

AAG Harare province chairman Liberty Bizure said the community share trusts are making a difference in ordinary people's lives, urging Zimbabweans to embrace them to become economically independent.

Key developments that have been made through community share trusts include building clinics and hospitals, schools, and improving water and sanitation.

Some of the community share ownership schemes launched so far are the Zvishavane community share ownership trusts, Chegutu-Mhondoro-Ngezi-Zvimba community share ownership trust at Zimplats, Tongogara community share ownership trust at Unki Mine in Shurugwi, the Mashonaland Central community share ownership trusts and the Marange-Zimunya community share ownership trust.