Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
GOVERNMENT will not rush to repossess land from underutilised farms, but will instead prioritise supporting beneficiaries to fully utilise the land allocated to them, Lands and Rural Development Minister Vangelis Haritatos has said.
He made the remarks in Kadoma on Saturday at a Zanu PF inter-district youth meeting organised by the party’s provincial youth leadership to provide feedback on the Munhumutapa Housing Scheme and the Munhumutapa Empowerment Fund.
The meeting brought together hundreds of youths from across Muzvezve and Kadoma Central Constituencies, with discussions centred on youth empowerment, housing delivery and land utilisation.
More than 4 000 youths in the province are expected to benefit from residential stands under the housing scheme, while the empowerment fund has already enabled youths to establish an income-generating project that is reportedly earning about US$50 000 every four months.
Through the empowerment initiative, youths in the province acquired two tipper trucks and a front-end loader using part of the US$200 000 fund availed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The machinery is currently being leased to a property development company, generating revenue for the youth projects.
Addressing aspiring young farmers and land seekers at the meeting, Minister Haritatos said the Government remained committed to transparency and fairness in land administration, warning against corruption and unlawful attempts to seize farms from legitimate beneficiaries.
“I know you voted me into Parliament, which later enabled President Mnangagwa to appoint me Minister of Lands and Rural Development, but I want to categorically state that I will not bend the rules or engage in corruption to please anyone,” he said.
“There is a laid down system that governs land administration, and we will not tolerate people who attempt to grab farms belonging to war veterans, collaborators and former detainees.”
Minister Haritatos said land repossession was not the government’s preferred approach, stressing that authorities would first encourage and assist farmers to maximise productivity on their farms.
“As Government, repossessing underutilised farms is the last option. Our priority is to encourage land holders to fully utilise the land so that Zimbabwe remains food secure,” he said.
He added that the Government was ready to facilitate agricultural productivity through mechanisation support and approval of joint venture partnerships where necessary.
“We are not in the business of cancelling offer letters willy-nilly. Our mandate is to improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision,” said Minister Haritatos.
“Offer letters can only be withdrawn where there are genuine and justifiable reasons to do so.”
Speaking at the same meeting, Mashonaland West provincial youth chairman, Cde Tapiwa Masenda, outlined plans for the rollout of the housing scheme across the province.
He said youths who may not immediately benefit from residential stands would instead access a revolving empowerment fund aimed at supporting income-generating projects.
“Those who are not going to benefit from the housing stands allocation will be incorporated into the US$1 800 revolving fund programme that will be rolled out for youths across the province,” said Cde Masenda.
“With proper management and accountability, beneficiaries can grow their projects and potentially realise returns of up to US$4 000 within four weeks.”
Mashonaland West provincial secretary for local government, Cde Looklife Zvarevashe, revealed that about 14 000 residential stands had so far been identified in four districts across the province.
He said youths were expected to receive 30 percent of the identified stands as part of the Government’s broader youth empowerment and housing drive.
