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transform Zimbabwe’s economic landscape.
Although there has been so much negative talk about the policy, emanating obviously from wrong perceptions and misconceptions, the general feeling now is that it is a policy that seeks to do more good than harm for the nation at large.

The need to redress previous economic imbalances can only be seen in positive light, without necessarily throwing away caution to the wind.
That there is no going back on this policy thrust is a fact that needs to quickly sink into the minds of those that may be thinking otherwise.
Of course differences have largely been on implementation modalities as opposed to the justification of the policy itself; this is work in progress that will continue to benefit from more dialogue.
It, is however, interesting to note that the corporate sector has not questioned the need for Zimbabwe to empower its people, one of the reasons that Zimbabwe waged the liberation struggle against colonialism.

We have noted that such big players as Impala Platinum, parent company to Zimplats and Standard Chartered Africa, under which the local operation falls, have acknowledged the importance of indigenisation although they have been seeking concessions here and there.
Government has said it will deal with issues on a case by case basis, and we hope in all such instances the economy and the nation at large will emerge the winner.

Confrontation and insubordination have never been the best way to resolve conflict, so we urge the parties involved to always negotiate in good faith for the good of this country.
There are ways in which affected companies can present their case in an amicable way.
In our business section today we carry a story in which we take stock of progress made since the enactment of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.

We note that significant progress has been made in many respects but much more could have been achieved had the requisite matrix been in place.
National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board chairman Mr David Chapfika says a lot of ground work has been achieved, mostly in terms of educating stakeholders on the need to appreciate the policy, hence the stakeholder buy-in.

The general consensus that Zimbabweans need to own the means of production has thus yielded a number of deals including those involving Masawara, Schweppes, Costain Zimbabwe and lately Old Mutual.
Employees and local consortiums have benefited immensely from these although this is just the beginning of a process that will ensure a shift in economic power to the previously disadvantaged.
The majority of mining firms have also submitted their indigenisation plans while discussions are on-going in the banking sector.

We sincerely hope that these initiatives will yield the results.
The success registered so far should not deceive Government on the amount of work that is outstanding, particularly in terms of ensuring that the international community is fully apprised of the policy to avoid critical decision-making based on perception rather than fact.

Zimbabwe has been victim to a lot of bad Press over the past decade and the Indigenisation Act has so far elicited significant amounts of bad publicity.
Only after discussions with Government do some foreign investors get accurate information on the process.

This, therefore, calls for spirited public relations campaigns by Government to ensure informed decisions are made.
Furthermore, we urge that a more broad-based approach be implemented in terms of ensuring that the majority benefit instead of a select few.
Government has already begun to stretch its hand to communities in this regard.
This is as it should be.

At the end of the day, the policy is more about empowering the man on the street.
Posterity will definitely judge us harshly if the empowerment policy does not achieve that which it is intended to.
The Indigenisation policy is also one way of ensuring the country staves off the effects of the global economic crisis that seems to be rearing its ugly head again.

More dependency on local resources will cushion the economy against the harsh effects of the financial crisis.
Let’s all work towards making the programme a success.

In our differences as stakeholders, let’s find common ground to build a solid foundation for this noble initiative.