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Peter Matika Senior Reporter
THE Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Cde Andrew Langa, has hailed Government’s land reform, saying it was a key element in empowering the people of Zimbabwe, particularly the youth.Cde Langa said this last week during a field day held by businessman and farmer, Cde Butho Dube at Thornville Farm in Shangani.
“I am grateful to the farming community for turning out in their numbers to support the great work of a new farmer. Butho is among many other farmers in Zimbabwe that have benefited from the Land Resettlement Programme initiated and implemented by the President of Zimbabwe his Excellency Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
“The policy was the brainchild of our forefathers, who fought for the liberation of the country. Even the late vice president Dr Joshua Nkomo emphasised the need to reclaim our stolen land,” he said.
Cde Langa said there were many misconceptions about land reform, because of the falsehoods that had been peddled by the MDC and the British.
“Zimbabwe is one of the most liberated countries in Africa, where people are free to farm and practise different types of livelihoods. Land reform was initiated to take back what was rightfully ours. As it stands, Zimbabwe’s detractors — the British and MDC — have been put to shame, as it is on record that since the policy was implemented there has been productivity.
“This field day is not about marvelling the next person’s achievement but to adopt and learn from his ideas,” he said.
Cde Langa also highlighted the need for Zimbabweans to take farming seriously, so as to contribute to making the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) a resounding success.
“All newly resettled farmers and those that wish to take up farming should be able to contribute to the Zim Asset cluster under food security.
As it is Dube is playing his part in contributing to that project. Zimbabwe was once recognised as the breadbasket of Southern Africa and through such projects we hope to regain that status,” said Cde Langa.
Cde Langa noted that according to statistics issued to the Government by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Matabeleland South was the major producer of grain this year.
“Zimbabwe will not starve this year, as the GMB is recording high numbers of grain deposits. To ensure that the country never experience drought or hunger people should apply for land through the relevant offices. All those that apply should ensure that they apply for land they can manage. We don’t want to have instances of people having large amounts of land yet they are not productive.
“Those that apply and are allocated land should be actively involved in their projects and not operate their farms through cellphones,” he said.
Cde Dube practises pen feeding, livestock rearing and maize farming on the 300 hectare piece of land he was allocated through the land resettlement programme in 2008.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu