'I am not soft pedalling on indigenisation,' says Mugabe

President Mugabe has dismissed the notion that he was "soft pedalling" on the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive in his appointment of Francis Nhema as Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment taking over from the forceful Saviour Kasukuwere.

"That is not the case. The ideas, the objectives of Government must be pursued by every member of Cabinet.

"Yes, they may be different in terms style or presentations of individual ministers but this does not change the objectives set by Government."

Meanwhile, Government has warned individuals and businesses who submit false information in their indigenisation plans. The Minister of Youths, Indigenisation and Empowerment Francis Nhema said fronting and submitting false information about indigenisation was a serious crime and those caught will be severely punished.

"Some people submitting indigenisation plans declare false information and they claim to have certain shares in some businesses when in actual fact they do not have anything," he said in an interview yesterday at the National Defence College.

"We have some cases where people can actually use their gardeners and maids as business partners, but let me warn that fronting and the furnishing of false information in the declaration form or indigenisation plan is a criminal offence and punishable by a fine not exceeding level twelve or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both."

Minister Nhema said the indigenisation and economic empowerment law was not intended to stifle foreign investment, but to ensure locals benefited from their resources.