War veterans urged to fully utilise land

land reform programme.
He said land was the main reason why they waged the war to liberate Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the handover of farming equipment to war veterans by Motira Tractors in Harare yesterday Minister Mnangagwa said farming was business that should be taken seriously.
War veterans fall under the Ministry of Defence.
They got 10 tractors, planters, disc harrows and ploughs bought on credit from Morita Tractors, an Iranian tractor manufacturing company, with the help of CBZ Bank.
The loans will be payable after three years.

Said Minister Mnangagwa: “Land was the main reason why you principally and primarily went to war to fight the colonialists. With great determination and courage, you won and now the land reform has given you the opportunity to utilise the land.
“Farming is a business which must be taken seriously. I do not doubt you capabilities, you proved to be veterans during the war, now be veterans in farming.”

Minister Mnangagwa took a swipe at “some ministers” in the inclusive Government, whom he said were not supportive to agricultural activities in the country.
“Our economy is hinged on agriculture but surprisingly, we see our very own people refusing to allocate enough resources to farmers. With elections on next year, I hope there will be very sensitive ministers in the offices who understand where we came from,” he said.

Minister Mnangagwa urged the farmers to repay loans to banks for them to continue receiving financial support.
“Some have a tendency of borrowing and not paying back.

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“But, when offered such an opportunity where you will pay after three years the best thing is to work hard and repay and enjoy the profits from then onwards.

“If you don’t pay back, how do you expect the banks to continue supporting you. Apart from that the equipment you received today also needs servicing for you to continue benefiting,” he said.
Each province got a set of the equipment while others will benefit from a batch of 60 tractors that was said to be on its way.

War veterans’ co-ordinator, Cde Joseph Chinotimba encouraged the beneficiaries of the equipment to put it to good use.
Morita tractors managing director Mr Hossein Fazlollah said his country would continue supporting the country’s agricultural sector.
Cde Fadwell Mufuka, a beneficiary from Mashonaland West said the farming equipment would go a long way in increasing his produce.

“We had difficulties in the beginning but with this assistance we will continue rising,” he said.