via VP Mphoko underfire over white farmer – New Zimbabwe 08/02/2015
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko and war veterans are on a collision course with the former fighters accusing Mphoko of protecting a Gwanda commercial farmer from being evicted.
According to sources close to the dispute, Mphoko has ordered the lands ministry to immediately issue George Watson of Double O ranch with an offer letter for the 2,000 hectare piece of land.
Watson’s banana plantation is under threat after Matabeleland South provincial affairs minister Abedinico Ncube announced last week that the provincial lands committee had agreed to evict the farmer.
Watson however, remains on the farm with Mphoko reportedly organising an offer letter for him in Harare.
The vice president visited Watson’s farm in December last year to learn about his thriving banana project as he intends to set up similar projects in other parts of the country.
However, addressing hundreds of war veterans at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic on Saturday, war veterans secretary general Victor Matemadanda vowed that they would not be stopped from acquiring the farm.
“Mat-South has the worst case of land corruption in the country,” he said to wild cheers.
“We aware of this banana farm and there is a lot to it than bananas. We do not care who you know in the party we will move you.
“People fought for this land and some are now taking it through corruption.”
Matemadanda also called for the dismissal of provincial administrator Midard Khumalo, district administrators and local lands ministry officials he accused of disregarding Ncube’s orders.
However, war veterans leader and minister of welfare of war veterans Chris Mutsvangwa warned the former freedom fighters against lawlessness.
“We need to create a new image as war veterans, so don’t go about breaking the law in our name,” said Mutsangwa.
His remarks followed reports some war veterans cut down a 16km-long security fence at Watson’s farm.
COMMENTS
The VP should not be intimidated by these useless people who cannot till the land except to spoil it.They have seen these bananas ready for harvesting so they want to benefit from them.They lack proper skills in agriculture,therefore they cannot maintain that banana plantation because it requires a lot of irrigation water and well balanced fertilizer applications at specific intervals.
After all the 2000 hectares were allocated by the president for the widow to use.Why did they not refuse with it before this widow and her son developed it with bananas?These guys need to be controlled to avoid what happened in Harare whereby council authorities with foreign investors were chased like dogs at Mbare when they wanted to carryout a ground breaking ceremony to improve the dirty area.They do not want this project because they are benefiting from the current chaotic situation at Mbare.They charge vendors funny funds per day which are illegal and never reach the council pockets.
here we go again destroying even the little light we have in Matebeleland. Sagqibela amadiba, we even burnt down schools we still have not learnt anything now some farm workers will be employed. Why don’t we get him to share his technology so we can make bigger farms ourselves?????
We will build when we have our land. Continue to take back what’s ours. Those of you who don’t like it look back when Rhodes came here. At least we are not killing as Rhodes did.