Land is key to the nation's survival

Most revolutions, at least which I know were primarily premised on land, for land defines a nation's space which it has to safeguard and bequeath to its posterity. Never doubt the possibility of war erupting in the event of any intruder trying to deprive any nation of even a centimeter of its territorial or aerial space. To Zimbabwe, land is the economy and indeed the economy is the land. The survival of Zimbabweans is rooted in the land, that's where the abundant national resources which have made the country the envy of the predatory developed world whose insatiable desire for resources knows no boundaries emanates from. The land is where our shelter is ensconced; it is the populace's hope for a grand future.

The Herald of 10 June 2014 indicated that a miniscule audit unearthed gross irregularities where even 10 year olds were recipients of land in the revolutionary land reform programme. The government has to take immediate action to restore normalcy so as to ensure that the land is utilized for the benefit of the nation and the people. The Minister of Land and Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora postulated that the government needed 35million United States dollars to remedy these anomalies in an envisaged audit. Minister Mombeshora has to restore sanity by expeditiously and timeously resolving these hurdles. Whist money is important for government operations; an exercise such as ridding the land beneficiaries of anomalies does not require such astronomical financial requirements. What is needed is enacting robust systems in place that detect such flaws. The countries need all available land to be used productively. The country has no option but to restore and rekindle its esteemed bread basket status for the region and beyond. With prudent agricultural policies being there as is the case, the sky should be the limit. The levels of production during the pre-land reform era are attainable. The favourable climatic conditions which have of late engulfed the nation and the region should spur the country to lofty standards in the agricultural sector.

It is a fact that the government is stretched financially as it grapples to ensure the noble economic blueprint; Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) becomes a reality through implementing the programmes that are enshrined in it. Therefore waiting for the rectification of these minute anomalies till the 35 million United States dollars is found will be a disservice to the whole nation. There is need to be innovative thus thinking outside the box to ensure that these real issues are solved even in the absence of money. They are government officials in the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement who are remunerated every month hence a way out has to be found of correcting this transgressions.

The Ministry of Land and Resettlement should also move a gear up by ensuring that those who were allocated land utilize it efficiently so as to feed the nation and generate the much needed foreign currency which is vital for the nation's trade. In tandem with the spirit of the Zim Asset document, the Ministry of Land and Resettlement has to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure production levels for any crop genre are increased. What comes into mind is the need for government to continue sourcing the financial resources which are indeed a critical factor in the agricultural industries. I have often heard some naïve individuals yearning for yesteryear white farmers and unwittingly praising them for decent produce during their reign in the agricultural sector. With all due respect to these Rhodesians, there were never miracle workers, instead the financial permutation at the time gave these white farmers unbridled assistance hence their so called magic hand in farming. Those dizzy heights were achieved due to the solid financial commitment of funders to the cause of the agricultural sector. Even when the racist Ian Smith declared the Unilateral Declaration of Independence, the farmers continued to stealthily receive funding from its kin and kin who are the owners of these financial institutions.

There is therefore need to have financial institutions who appreciate the requirements of the new farmer in this new economy as suggested by the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa. Anyone in their right sense of mind should realize that indeed the old economy which was predominantly in the hands of a few whites who had unperturbed monopoly of all the key sectors of the economy is dead. As a reflection of the status quo where the black majority is participating in their economy at levels previously unheard of, the thinking of financial players should also resonate to that reality. Though the country is in economic siege, with an albatross of the illegal sanctions on its neck, capital from any investor whether local or foreign has always been safe in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a safe destination for capital, those willing to invest in the country should disregard the advice of those with scores to settle with the people's chosen leaders. In the eyes of country's detractors, some of whom are unfortunately Zimbabwean, the nation is a war zone. Such idiotic thinking has to condemned for what it is, idiocy?

To avoid the temptation of losing steam on this important issue, all anomalies surrounding the allocation of land need to be addressed. Given that financial resources are scarce, it will be prudent to use the available manpower and the scarce resources to solve problems besetting the land reform exercise. The land is the bedrock to our economy hence its resuscitation can only be a harbinger of joy for the nation.