News / National
Chombo has started a tribal war, says Mliswa
23 Apr 2015 at 09:33hrs | Views
FIRED former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and Hurungwe West independent candidate Temba Mliswa has accused Local Government Minister and Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, of playing the tribalism card in his attempt to have his Spring Farm, a massive property in Karoi, repossessed by Zanu-PF youths.
Mliswa, acknowledged there are attempts to reposes his farm, and quickly pointed an accusing finger at Chombo for influencing traditional leaders who fall under his ministerial portfolio and party youths to descend on Spring Farm.
"Unfortunately, Minister Chombo has decided to be tribal. He starts a tribal war to coerce chiefs to say we do not want Mliswa here but I am a Zimbabwean, where do I go? I am on a farm that is for Zimbabweans," Mliswa said.
Mliswa contends that the traditional leaders were not acting on their own but on instructions from Chombo who could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
"Attempts to have Spring Farm, I have always said that's not an issue. If the government wants to take it away, there must be a good reason. I am one of the most productive farmers. Right now I am sitting on thousands of tonnes of maize, so that's not an issue.
"I do not think we need to politicise the land issue. The (government) policy is very clear. Any Zimbabwean must benefit from it," he said.
Mliswa's origins were not an issue when he got a farm in Mashonaland West, became MP for Hurungwe West and even took over as chairman for the ruling Zanu PF party in the province.
But now some 12 chiefs from Hurungwe gathered at district administrator Tsana Chirau offices Tuesday to complain that Mliswa is not from "here", adding they wanted him to leave the area.
Mliswa's hold on his Spring Farm has also become tenuous after the chiefs said they had questions about how he was given the land.
Chief Dandawa, who spoke on behalf of the 12 chiefs said to have approached the Hurungwe district administrator Tuesday said they wanted Mliswa to leave the area.
Mliswa is not the only former Zanu-PF official whose farm has been targeted for takeover.
Zanu-PF youths and war veterans have also attempted, without success, to invade former bigwigs Ray Kaukonde, Dumiso Dabengwa and Tracy Mutinhiri's farms after they fell from grace with the revolutionary party.
Mliswa, acknowledged there are attempts to reposes his farm, and quickly pointed an accusing finger at Chombo for influencing traditional leaders who fall under his ministerial portfolio and party youths to descend on Spring Farm.
"Unfortunately, Minister Chombo has decided to be tribal. He starts a tribal war to coerce chiefs to say we do not want Mliswa here but I am a Zimbabwean, where do I go? I am on a farm that is for Zimbabweans," Mliswa said.
Mliswa contends that the traditional leaders were not acting on their own but on instructions from Chombo who could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
"Attempts to have Spring Farm, I have always said that's not an issue. If the government wants to take it away, there must be a good reason. I am one of the most productive farmers. Right now I am sitting on thousands of tonnes of maize, so that's not an issue.
"I do not think we need to politicise the land issue. The (government) policy is very clear. Any Zimbabwean must benefit from it," he said.
Mliswa's origins were not an issue when he got a farm in Mashonaland West, became MP for Hurungwe West and even took over as chairman for the ruling Zanu PF party in the province.
But now some 12 chiefs from Hurungwe gathered at district administrator Tsana Chirau offices Tuesday to complain that Mliswa is not from "here", adding they wanted him to leave the area.
Mliswa's hold on his Spring Farm has also become tenuous after the chiefs said they had questions about how he was given the land.
Chief Dandawa, who spoke on behalf of the 12 chiefs said to have approached the Hurungwe district administrator Tuesday said they wanted Mliswa to leave the area.
Mliswa is not the only former Zanu-PF official whose farm has been targeted for takeover.
Zanu-PF youths and war veterans have also attempted, without success, to invade former bigwigs Ray Kaukonde, Dumiso Dabengwa and Tracy Mutinhiri's farms after they fell from grace with the revolutionary party.
Source - fingaz
