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Temba Dube Senior Reporter—
THE Zanu-PF politburo has resolved that party bigwigs who benefitted from the land reform programme must relinquish their claim to Save Conservancy in favour of people who are yet to benefit from the government’s empowerment programme. The Politburo took the decision during its meeting in Harare on Monday.
Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo told Chronicle that enabling every Zimbabwean to own land and other means of production was an important part of the economic recovery blueprint, Zim-Asset.
He said the politburo resolved that people who got farms under the land reform programme should not be part of the indigenisation of Save Conservancy in Masvingo.
“In light of the drive to empower every citizen, we decided that those who got land under the highly successful land reform programme should not benefit a second time before people who were not able to get the land. It would be akin to double dipping,” he said.
The politburo’s decision affects a number of senior Zanu-PF members who had benefitted from the conservancy’s earlier purported indigenisation that was opposed by local chiefs and former owners.
The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authourity had previously granted 25-year land leases and hunting licences to among others former Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke, former Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Lovemore Matuke, war veterans Joseph Chinotimba and Shuvai Mahofa, Lands Minister Douglas Mombeshora and Zanu-PF central committee member Enock Porusingazi.
The Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Tongai Muzenda as well as other sitting and former lawmakers such as Ailess Baloyi, Abraham Sithole, Samson Mukanduri and Noel Mandebvu also benefitted.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi had opposed the parcelling out of the conservancy, while the then Minister of Environment Francis Nhema defended the move.
The parliamentary committee on natural resources had also opposed the earlier takeover of the animal sanctuary saying it did not support broad based economic empowerment.
Other beneficiaries such as Cde Chinotimba had defended the move saying they wanted to finance their farming ventures from proceeds of business conducted at the conservancy.
During the inclusive government era, a cabinet taskforce headed by then Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara was set up to tackle the saga but the life of the inclusive government ended before the matter was finalised.
Meanwhile, Cde Gumbo said the politburo also tasked Finance Minister Cde Patrick Chinamasa to raise $8 million needed to compensate families affected by the Tokwe-Murkosi floods. The families are supposed to be compensated before the start of the next rainy season.
The politburo was been informed that more than 2,500 families that were displaced by floods had vowed to stay put at Chingwizi transit camp until government compensates them for losing their homes and property.
The families are reportedly living without adequate shelter, running water, toilets and food.
With the onset of winter season, experts have said the situation is likely to deteriorate.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti had reported to the politburo that the families are refusing to move insisting on compensation first.
Cde Gumbo said the politburo wanted the people resettled as a matter of urgency.
“Cde Chinamasa was told to raise the money as soon as possible. These people need to be settled and start working with other Zimbabweans in creating wealth for themselves and the country,” said Cde Gumbo.
The families, most of them from Chivi District, were relocated to Chingwizi transit camp, 200km south east of Masvingo in early February.
Torrential rains caused water levels in the catchment area of the partially constructed Tokwe-Murkosi Dam to reach dangerously high levels.
A fractional breach of the dam wall flooded several villages near the dam.
The families are demanding to be moved to areas where permanent structures can be built.
A majority of the families have reportedly turned down government offers to resettle them on one-hectare plots on a former cattle ranch, arguing that they were initially told they would receive three-hectare plots as well as compensation for lost homes and property.
Online Reporter