MDC-T to stop people empowerment policies!, as minister says he is too old for politics

THE Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai will stop the indigenization and empowerment policy if it wins the forthcoming harmonized elections scheduled to take place on July 31 this year, a senior party official said.

Addressing a "meet the candidates" meeting organized by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BUPRA) at Lobengula Hall today, MDC-T candidate for Lobengula - Njube constituency Mr Sam Sipepha Nkomo said his party abhors the indigenization and empowerment policy and will "scrap it off" if it wins the elections. Mr Nkomo's sentiments come barely a week after another MDC-T MP aspirant for Magwegwe constituency Mr Anele Ndebele said his party does not want the Distressed Industries and Marginalized Areas Fund (Dimaf) to be disbursed.

He (Mr Ndebele) said it was his party's wish that companies close, people lose jobs and then vote for his party which will then be in charge of restoring order in the country.

Mr Nkomo, who is also the Minister of Water Resources Development and Management shocked the audience when he said he was "too old" for politics.

"When you elect us into office and remove Zanu-PF and Mugabe (President Robert Mugabe), we will allow investors to come to Zimbabwe. We will not say we need 51 percent, No - we hate that stupid policy and we will stop it.

"We will bring donors into this country and this Zanu-PF empowerment will stop," he said.

In terms of the country's indigenization and empowerment laws, locals get 51 perecent shareholding in all partnerships with foreign investors.

The MDC T's national executive member then drew a shocker when he said: "I am now too old for politics; I have a son who is 47 years old. I am tired of this," much to the annoyance of his party supporters who looked visibly shaken and saddened.

Mr Nkomo is not a stranger to controversy. He attracted the wrath of people of Matabeleland and Bulawayo when he said his party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is like the great Ndebele King Lobengula. He said the MDC-T leader had good leadership characteristics like those of the last Ndebele king, Lobengula.

"Being educated does not necessarily mean that you will become a good leader and history gives us evidence of this. Lobengula was a good leader, but he was uneducated. If a person hears Tsvangirai's ideas and listens to him speak that person will immediately tell that he is educated. Tsvangirai is wise and the most knowledgeable person I know. I do not see how someone can say he is uneducated, said Mr Nkomo in November last year.

Other speakers at the meeting were Mr Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube representing the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube, Mr Albert Ndimande Mathe representing ZAPU, Mr Witness Jiyane of Alliance Khumbula Ekhaya.

Mr Christopher Mdingwa Dube of Zanu PF did not attend.