GNU blamed for NewZimsteel saga

News
Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the inclusive government is to blame for failing to turn the fortunes at New Zimbabwe Steel.

GWERU – Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the inclusive government is to blame for failing to turn the fortunes at New Zimbabwe Steel, formerly Ziscosteel, through haggling by political parties that constituted the inclusive government.

STEPHEN CHADENGA

Zanu PF and the two MDC formations entered into a Government of National Unity in 2009 following the disputed 2008 Presidential polls.

Mnangagwa, who is the Midlands Show Society patron, told delegates at a business cocktail last Friday in Gweru that the discord in the inclusive government made it difficult the resuscitate the steel company.

He said political parties were after claiming credit in implementing government programmes, stalling progress in the process.

“Everyone wanted to claim merit in any positive development and it is such discord that saw Ziscosteel failing to be revamped,” Mnangagwa said.

He said Zanu PF’s victory in the recent elections will witness the steel company’s fortunes changing through the party’s empowerment policies.

At a campaign rally in Gweru last month, the First Lady Grace Mugabe said Ziscosteel workers had been paid their outstanding salaries after the intervention of Zanu PF, a claim later denied by workers as a political gimmick.

However, outgoing Industry and Commerce minister Welshman Ncube has blamed Zanu PF ministers of throwing spanners into the Ziscosteel-Essar project signed in August 2011, but which is yet to fully kick off.

The deal gave India-based Essar 54% ownership and a further 80% control of NewZim Minerals, while the government held the remaining 20%.