Minister blames journalists for Zim's problems

The indigenisation laws, which give majority shareholding to locals in foreign owned business entities, have been widely condemned and rejected by Zimbabweans for scaring away investors, as shown by the recent survey by Mass Public Opinion Institute.

There is also a discord within the ruling ZANU (PF) government with ministers routinely giving contradicting statements and interpretations of the laws.

Addressing the business community in Harare, Mabuwa said she was saddened by the negative reportage on the country's laws and attributed the deteriorating economy to "irresponsible journalism".

"These fellow black Zimbabwean journalists who are looking at me right now, you should see what they write about the black indigenisation law; they plough it," she said.

Addressing the journalists directly she said: "If one owns the means of production you just write negative about it; do you want me to say shame on you? I can say that".

She added: "Ndine hurombo zvikuru munoda kufa muri varombo. isu takupai mukana, takanowurirwa, wokuti mutora zvinhu imi makunyora zvisiri izvo ( I feel pity for you because you have the chance to enjoy the benefits of the struggle but you spend time destroying the gains of independence)".

Mabuwa said journalists were enjoying the freedom to do as they pleased at the expense of "us who left the country at the age of 13 to fight for the liberation of the country to liberate you".

"You are planting the wrong seed for your children and grandchildren, musazviite izvozvo ndozotsamwa (stop it before I get angry)," she fumed.

The angry looking Mabuwa advocated for the return of the local currency saying the multicurrency regime was problematic.

"In a dollarized economy it is easy to lose competitiveness and rather difficulty to regain it," she said.