Youths, women to get land

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

YOUTHS and women are set to be prioritised in the allocation of land after the Government is done with the audit and farm downsizing exercise, an official has said.

In his remarks during the Midlands Provincial students convention at Kwekwe Polytechnic last week, Zanu-PF Political Commissar Cde Victor Matemadanda said there was a need to ensure equitable distribution of land among Zimbabweans.

Cde Matemadanda, who is also Defence and War Veterans Affairs Deputy Minister, said the exercise was meant to ensure that multiple farm owners and those that own large pieces of land cede the land that would be divided before being parcelled out to youths and women.

“Government has done audits and we have said the larger portions of this land should go to youths and women. Instead of one being owned by one farmer, it will then benefit more, say 20 youths. This is possibly the last chance for people of your age and of your generation to at least own a piece of land, so grab it and utilise it,” he said.

Cde Matemadanda said the Government has introduced a two-hectare plot model which will see beneficiaries, youths and women in this case, being capacitated so that they could utilise the land fully.

“We are designing a two-hectare plot model which is again targeting youths and women. Under this model, youths are going to be prioritised and capacitated as well as empowered so that they utilise the land fully. Under the model, the plot is expected to carry out both farming of crops as well as cattle ranching. Depending on its success, the model is going to be spread to other willing farmers,” he said.

He said this was being done to ensure the youths play their expected leading role in national development.

“The thrust of this dispensation is to grow the economy by releasing all factors of production. By giving youths land, we are making sure that they have the tools of trade that can enable them to play their role in nation building as expected by the President,” said Cde Matemadanda.

He said the youths should desist from allowing themselves to be used by political bigwigs.

“It is folly for you to allow political bigwigs, from any political party, to use you for their personal gains. In most cases, you get used for nothing, so instead focus your energy on national development rather than being used for nothing,” he said.

Cde Matemadanda said the Government has introduced a concept where every department will have a desk for the youths, manned by the youths.

“We saw it fit to introduce desks for youths manned by youths and addressing youths’ issues. There is no one who understands youths’ issues than the youths themselves.”

Cde Matemadanda also promised to make sure that issues raised by the students during the convention like accommodation, tuition fees would be addressed.

Zanu-PF acting Secretary for Youths Affairs, Cde Tendai Chirawu said he was confident that Government would address issues concerning the youths. Organised by the Zimbabwe Congress for Students Union (Zicosu) the convention was attended by students from Midlands State University, Gweru and Kwekwe Polytechnics as well as Mkoba Teachers’ College.