Land barons misusing Zanu-PF name warned

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka has warned land barons who misuse the names of Zanu-PF and Government officials that their days are numbered.

She said apart from duping people, the land barons were soiling the name of Zanu-PF and those of Government officials.

Speaking during the party's provincial meeting attended by various stakeholders aimed at deliberating on standard human settlement drive and addressing illegal settlements, Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the party's First Secretary and President Emmerson Mnangagwa was seized with information of some Zanu-PF officials embroiled in land scams misusing the party's name.

"Let it be known to the party leadership in particular, that His Excellency is appalled by party members' links to this scourge and he wants all the bad apples that use and abuse the name of the party to be flushed out," she said.

"We want to be known to be a party of high standards and dealing with this mess will set us on the right trajectory. I am encouraged by this bold approach by our leadership to get this exercise underway."

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said people settled on wetlands and other inappropriate land must be resettled at the expense of the land barons.