HARARE, Zimbabwe, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Bank Gov. Gideon Gono in Zimbabwe said a government move to seize control of 13 companies could be a setback for the economy.
Government minister Savior Kusakawere sent warnings to the businesses to prepare themselves to be nationalized or they would lose their licenses, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday.
But central bank Gov. Gono, in an effort to calm the business community, said such a move could "harm the recovering economy."
Gono said in a statement, "The financial sector ought to be treated with a great deal of circumspection."
"This is necessary in order to avoid fly-by-night, reckless and excitable flexing of muscles and decisions that overlook certain fundamentals that could irreparably harm the nerve-center of our recovering economy," the statement said.
The conflicting statements reflect the difficulties of a power-sharing government run by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The businesses receiving warnings included mining companies and banks. BAT and Barclays were among the 13, the BBC said.
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