admin
Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
ZANU-PF has expressed concern over the spate of illegal land occupations in Matabeleland South amid reports some beneficiaries of the land reform programme were receiving bribes to allocate pieces of land to individuals.Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial secretary for lands Cde Jabulani Phetshu said it had come to the party’s attention that some people were receiving bribes to allocate land to their friends outside the legal processes.
“There are people who are flocking into resettlement areas driving nice cars bribing people to get land. These people did not subscribe to the land reform ideology when it was started and are now becoming a problem,” Cde Phetshu said.
He said everyone who needed land should go through the district land committee and warned that perpetrators would be dealt with at law.
Said Cde Phetshu: “The time for farm occupations ended in 2001. At the moment no one should be resettled without the approval of the land committee and Agritex officials.”
Cde Phetshu said the party was working on conducting an audit of farms in the province with the view of fighting corruption.
He expressed optimism that this year farming season would yield good results in the province, which is drought prone.
“We are getting rains in every part of the province even the dry districts like Beitbridge. The pastures are good and with continuous rains the crops are going to be good,” said Cde Phetshu.
Online Reporter