'No U-turn on indigenisation,' says Chinamasa

Government says the indigenisation policy has not changed, but will be aligned with investment realities that will see arrangements being made with investors depending on particular cases.

While the media has been awash with debate on whether government has made a U-turn on its indigenisation policy, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa told parliament that nothing has changed.

Cde Chinamasa, who was responding to questions in the National Assembly, said the policy has not changed but will be aligned with what President Robert Mugabe has said where cases need to be viewed by basis.

He also said Zimbabwe owns 100 percent of all its natural resources but when an investor comes into the country, there is need to sit down and view offers to determine how the policy will be applied.

In the same question and answer time, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Paul Chimedza also told the house that it is not the duty of government to designate fees demanded by health service providers in the medical aid schemes as government only intervenes in such matters when a stalemate arises.

Meanwhile, parliament passed the Electoral Amendment Bill which is expected to make changes to the Electoral Act (chapter 2:13) in order to promote free and fair elections.

After going through various public consultations, the bill sailed through the lower house unanimously.