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The President warned Zimbabweans, including traditional leaders, who are being used as fronts for former commercial farmers.
He said these people risked losing farms allocated to them during land reform.
“Vana vedu vanofanira kuva nenhaka iyoyo vasazoonekwa vachideura ropa nenyaya yenyika zvakare.
“Zvatava nayo nyika hazvigumire ipapo. Ivhu rinofanira kushandiswa, hupfumi ngauvakwe kuti vanhu vese vave nehupenyu hwakabudirira.”
President Mugabe underscored the need for peaceful co-existence and for leaders to be just.
“Tinokurudzira kuti vanhu vagarisane zvakanaka. Kutaurirana zvakanaka, isu tovavo vatungamiri vanekutonga kwakanaka.
“Nekuda kwekuti takarwisana nemuvengi tikatora nyika, hapasisina kurwisana pakati pedu. Toshanda pasina makakatanwa.”
The President castigated leaders who worked with outside forces to destabilise the country.
“Asi mukunzwanana kwedu todaidza vavengi? Ipapo tinopokana nekuti vana vese varere pano vakarwa kuti tisadzvanyirirwa nemuvengi. They should rule in their own countries.”
Zimbabweans, he said, needed to work hard in developing the economy.
“Ngativei vanhu vanoda kugarisana vakabatana, vanoda kushandira nyika.
“Kana uri murimi, kana mushandi wemufakitori, unofanira kushandira budiriro yenyika.
“Saka tichiti ivhu sekugoverwa kwarakaitwa, harichadzokera kumuvengi.
“Hondo yedu is a movement forward. Hatidududze kwete. Rwendo rwava rwemberi. Tatora ivhu hatichadududza.”
The President said Government was aware of beneficiaries of the land reform programme who were being used by former commercial farmers with capital and machinery.
“Tinoziva kune vamwe varikuita husahwira nerweseri vachirimirwa nevarungu. Vanovapa minda vachinzi tinemishina torima tozokupawo mari. Ngavachenjere nekuti varikudzorera rwendo kumashure. Tovatorera.
He said there were so many senior officials, including chiefs, who were being used to protect the interests of the former farmers.
President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to guard against people who wished to divide them.
“Among our people, let us be warned about those who wear black skins, but are ever-ready to work with white imperialist exploiters in undermining our indigenisation and empowerment policy and programmes.”
He expressed regret that widows and widowers were not benefiting from the National Heroes Dependants Assistance Fund for declared heroes.
“Government is committed to reviewing this assistance, which is in the form of monthly maintenance allowances, education, health and accommodation allowances for all dependants of our national heroes.
“I however, regret that because of lack of funds, the fund has not benefitted the intended beneficiaries.”
l See full text of the President’s speech on Page 6
Online Reporter