Chiefs to be allocated sugarcane farms

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
ALL traditional chiefs in Masvingo will soon be allocated sugarcane farms in the lowveld, the Minister of State responsible for Masvingo, Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, has said. Addressing heads of department and other stakeholders at the Civic Centre in Masvingo, Cde Bhasikiti, who is also Mwenezi East Member of the House of Assembly, promised to use his office to facilitate that the chiefs get farms in the lowveld before his term expires.

“I want to make sure that all chiefs get sugarcane farms before my term expires in 2018. Our traditional leaders should get something from which the next generation will benefit. If one of you gets a sugarcane farm in Chiredzi, it would be better,” he said.

Cde Bhasikiti said the responsible ministry was already working on the modalities adding that chiefs deserve to benefit from the country’s resources.

“We are working on the matter with the Ministry of Lands and I can assure you that every chief will get a farm. We also know you want farms for Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala Senkosi programme and we are committed to that,” he said.

Cde Bhasikiti urged farmers in the province to unite and improve farming methods which would mitigate the effects of recurrent droughts.

“We want to bring drought to an end this season. We must grow small grains that are drought resistant. The country is spending a lot of money in buying maize for the drought relief programme.

“The money which is channelled to buy food should be channelled towards infrastructure development,” he said.
Cde Bhasikiti warned some traditional leaders who were corruptly allocating land, saying they would be jailed once caught.

He noted with concern that some Zanu-PF officials were involved in corrupt activities and said the law would catch up with them.