Johannesburg - The indigenisation in Zimbabwe is not
nationalisation, a government official from that country said in Johannesburg
on Tuesday.
"Indigenisation is not nationalisation. It is not
forced on an investor," Prince Mupazviriho, permanent secretary of the
ministry of mines in Zimbabwe, told the Africa Mining Congress.
"You find your own partner and you come up with your
own structure on how you need to do it.
"A perception has been created that if an investor
comes to invest to Zimbabwe, the moment the investor touches down, he is
surrendering 51% of that investment. No, that is not the case."
Mupazviriho said investors were expected to identify a local
partner and come up with their own arrangement.
"The aspiration is that it must be 51% (local-owned)
and 49% (foreign-owned)."
Mupazviriho said indigenisation was done for the benefit of
people living near mining projects.
The Mail&Guardian reported in March that the
controversial law orders foreign-owned companies, such as mines, banks and
retailers, to submit plans on how they will give up a majority share to locals.
The government had however not explained how the process would be undertaken.