News / National
Zanu-PF bigwigs set to lose excess land
01 Jun 2015 at 07:27hrs | Views
Government and Zanu-PF bigwigs who seized vast swathes of farmland during the fast track land reform programme which they cannot fully utilise are set to have the farms reduced in size beginning this week for redistribution.
According to The Herald, most of the farms far exceed recommended sizes gazetted province by province and are not being fully utilised.
The exercise to slash farm sizes begins in the Midlands this week where impeccable sources say bigwigs affected include Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Joram Gumbo and suspended party member Flora Bhuka.
This is after a land audit committee established that more than 70 farms in the province far exceeded the maximum recommended sizes of 500 hectares while the list of people in need of farms keeps growing.
Other provinces will begin with farm inspections. Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said 40 farms in Mashonaland East would be assessed with a view to downsizing them.
Government has stepped up efforts to set up a Land Commission to carry out periodic land audits to identify multiple farm owners, resolve land disputes and deal with land reform beneficiaries leasing out farms to former white commercial farmers.
The Land Commission is a requirement under Section 296 of the Constitution.
Dr Mombeshora said the recommended maximum farm sizes varied according to ecological region, ranging from 250 hectares in Region I to 500 hectares in Region V.
Meanwhile, Dr Mombeshora said his ministry was working on the final draft of the Land Commission Bill.
All things being equal, he said, the Bill should be ready for Cabinet and eventually Parliament by Wednesday.
According to The Herald, most of the farms far exceed recommended sizes gazetted province by province and are not being fully utilised.
The exercise to slash farm sizes begins in the Midlands this week where impeccable sources say bigwigs affected include Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Joram Gumbo and suspended party member Flora Bhuka.
This is after a land audit committee established that more than 70 farms in the province far exceeded the maximum recommended sizes of 500 hectares while the list of people in need of farms keeps growing.
Other provinces will begin with farm inspections. Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said 40 farms in Mashonaland East would be assessed with a view to downsizing them.
Government has stepped up efforts to set up a Land Commission to carry out periodic land audits to identify multiple farm owners, resolve land disputes and deal with land reform beneficiaries leasing out farms to former white commercial farmers.
The Land Commission is a requirement under Section 296 of the Constitution.
Dr Mombeshora said the recommended maximum farm sizes varied according to ecological region, ranging from 250 hectares in Region I to 500 hectares in Region V.
Meanwhile, Dr Mombeshora said his ministry was working on the final draft of the Land Commission Bill.
All things being equal, he said, the Bill should be ready for Cabinet and eventually Parliament by Wednesday.
Source - herald