Mujuru to reverse skewed Zanu-PF policies

FORMER Vice-President and opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader Joice Mujuru has pledged to respect property rights and repeal the indigenisation law to attract foreign direct investment once she wins the 2018 elections.

Mujuru made the promises during her maiden Harare rally on Saturday which was attended by a sizeable crowd of at least 4 000 supporters.

"We want those who want to invest in this country to come, but it's impossible because we don't have good policies. We need to respect their investment. They must know that in Zimbabwe there are property rights and we want that to be respected and upheld. We are going to do it," she said.

President Robert Mugabe's government has been accused of scaring away current and prospective investors following its promulgation of the indigenisation policy which compels foreign investors to cede a 51% stake to locals.

Mujuru, who was hounded out of both Zanu-PF and government in 2014 over allegations of plotting to dethrone Mugabe, claimed she was pushed out because she wanted to bring change from within.

"In our blueprint, we presented what we believe is economic transformation. We are talking about our wealth and resources that have been wasted. We want to come up with a law that speaks to the empowerment of our people rather than indigenisation. We want to grow the economy and have the industry working again," she said.

Mujuru also blamed the current industrial collapse and stagnation to Zanu-PF misrule and skewed policies.

She also said her government would conduct a land audit and financially empower farmers to ensure maximum production on their allocated farms.

"Our farmers must be helped with cheap loans so that we have a bumper harvest as a country. We don't want pseudo farmers. We want serious farmers," she said.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said Mujuru's new thrust was likely to endear her with the electorate.

"She is trying to build a Mujuru brand, a brand that will be different from Zanu-PF theory. She is definitely going to say the opposite of what represents Zanu-PF and she is using the platform to accent her political seriousness by opposing things she supported while in Zanu-PF. She wants to be regarded as a serious politician and not a spent force," he said.

Academic Ibbo Mandaza said: "She is making her political intentions known and the vision of the party she leads clear. To say it will work in her favour, it's too early, let us give her time."