Saviour Kasukuwere ‘empowered’ himself

TO many in Zanu PF, Saviour Kasukuwere, the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, is their saviour. Young, rich and successful, Kasukuwere has businesses ranging from oil to transport and banking.
His admirers have nicknamed him Tyson.

But his critics say Kasukuwere is a beneficiary of Zanu PF “gravy train” determined to do whatever it takes to make money for himself and to keep the former ruling party in power despite the economic ramifications.

They claim that he has been building his business empire on the back of political patronage using the Affirmative Action Group (AAG), a black empowerment group where he was once vice-president.

The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act whose regulations Kasukuwere recently pushed through, they claim, is “a looting mechanism” by Zanu PF whose effects would be worse than farm invasions that resulted in the collapse of the economy.

Under the new law, foreign companies have to “cede” 51% of their shareholding to black investors in five years. They have to notify Kasukuwere how they intend to do it within 45 days after the law came into force last Monday.

It is also feared that the new law would scare away potential foreign investors whose money is badly needed to kick-start the economy ruined by over a decade of misrule and corruption.

Sources in Zanu PF last week said the empowerment law came under fire at the party’s politburo meeting last month.

But Kasukuwere, with the support of President Robert Mugabe, somehow managed to push it through.
“The politburo had rejected it but Kasukuwere got Mugabe’s support at the meeting. That is how it survived,” said one source.

Kasukuwere went on to defy Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who had declared the gazetting of the regulations “null and void” because he had not been consulted.

Of concern to most Zimbabweans is that Kasukuwere, who enforces the policy as the minister, is a businessman in his own right, with vast business interests in many sectors of the economy.

It is feared that he might be tempted not only to enrich himself but also his Zanu PF colleagues further as was the case with the farm invasions.

Already accusations have been made that Kasukuwere plans to acquire substantial shareholding in foreign-owned oil companies in the country to boost his existing enterprise.

Some of the foreign-owned oil companies currently operating in the country and could be targeted are Total Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, BP Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, Chevron and Engen (Pvt) Ltd.

The 39-year-old minister owns ComOil (Pvt) Ltd, an oil procurement company, United Touring Company (UTc), Concorpia Farm, and a substantial shareholding in Genesis Bank as well as Interfresh (Pvt) Ltd.

Last year, Kasukuwere was accused of blocking fresh investment in the energy industry and of trying to force BP and Shell to sell its assets to his oil company, ComOil.

There have also been reports that the Act targets Old Mutual, the country’s largest life insurer.
Sources said senior Zanu PF officials were positioning themselves to take over the listed company with the support of some foreigners.

In return, the foreigners would get protection for their other investments in the country.

However, Kasukuwere denies planning a takeover of BP, Old Mutual or any other foreign owned-company. “What people are saying is all nonsensical,” he said. “Honestly, I am trying to promote the interests of the majority of Zimbabweans by empowering them.”

The minister said the allegations were being peddled by his enemies who want to distract him from a national cause.

“I will stand my ground and will not be distracted,” he vowed. “I will stand for the national good; that is promoting the empowerment of indigenous people.”

But ordinary Zimbabweans say the government’s indigenisation programme has never benefited them but a few in Zanu PF and those politically well connected.

The AAG last year attacked Chevron Caltex for allegedly trying to exclude black fuel dealers from getting a stake in the company, a clear indication that hawks are waiting in the wings to snatch a stake in the firm.

AAG, once led by Kasukuwere and business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa among others, is a black empowerment group closely linked to Zanu PF.

Last year Kasukuwere’s ministry irregularly recruited into the civil service Border Gezi graduates as youth officers without seeking approval for the establishment of the posts, prejudicing government of millions of dollars in salaries.

The MDC said the youths were rewarded with jobs for violently supporting Mugabe in the March and June 2008 elections, where over 200 of its activists were killed.

Starting as a low-ranking member of the feared Central Intelligence Organisation in the late 1980s, very little is known about how Kasukuwere built his vast business empire.

Political analyst John Makumbe says it was difficult to establish how Kasukuwere built his business. “His wealth is very difficult to explain,” said Makumbe. “It’s all cloudy and nothing is clear about how he acquired it.”

But Kasukuwere insisted his wealth was legitimately acquired. “When I joined politics I had already built my business empire. I can tell you my other businesses which you did not even mention,” he quipped.
“So I am in politics not to make money but to empower Zimbabweans. I have already made my money.”

BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE