Zapu fights for locals to get stands

ZAPU has joined villagers at Cabatsha settlement on the outskirts of Bulawayo in challenging Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere's move to allocate residential stands at the Mvutsha Farm to outsiders.

The farm, located close to Cabatsha settlement, was grabbed from a white commercial farmer, Rick Burton and is earmarked for development of residential stands for Zanu-PF youths.

Zapu deputy spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa, said his party was bracing for a bruising legal fight with Kasukuwere after it emerged that locals would not be considered in the housing scheme.

"We are reliably informed that most of the youths who got stands will be registered as voters using the stand numbers, which they have been illegally given. Very soon, Zapu will make a court application, seeking to bar recipients of the fake stands from registering as voters in the constituency," he said.

Cabatsha villagers, most of them former farm workers, are living in shanty dwellings.

Former Zipra High Command member, Lazarus Masuku, said the villagers were angry over the partisan allocation of stands in their area to outsiders.

"Of all the youths who were allocated stands at Mvutsha, none are locals. All the youths, who got the stands are from very far away places like Masvingo, Harare and Gweru.

"I wonder where the minister expects our children to get stands," he said.

Masuku said former freedom fighters in the area have vowed to engage Kasukuwere and his ministry over the issue.

"We cannot allow people from outside to dislodge our children, yet their parents worked very hard as farm labourers at the farm. All the youths in the area should be allocated stands," he added.

Although Kasukuwere could not be reached for comment yesterday, he is reported to have said the scheme was open to all youths regardless of their political party affiliation.