Acting President orders probe into MP’s land dispute VP Mnangagwa
Acting President Mnangagwa

Acting President Mnangagwa

Bulawayo Bureau
Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed Matabeleland South provincial administrator Midard Khumalo and the Joint Operations Command to address the plight of Matobo legislator, Cde Rose Mpofu, who alleges that she is being harassed by the family of a white man who used to own her farm.

Cde Mnangagwa issued the directive during a question and answer session of a constitutional advocacy meeting at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda last Friday. He was responding to Cde Mpofu’s plea for intervention at her allocated farm.

He said he was aware of Cde Mpofu’s plight as the matter had already been raised with First Lady Grace Mugabe.

“Cde Mpofu, hlala, uhlale, uhlale. Provincial Administrator, I see the members of the JOC are here, can you please make sure you address this matter. Make sure that her offer letter is respected,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

He said once a farm has been gazetted for distribution, the holder of an offer letter should conduct his or her operations without any disturbances.

“The farm belongs to Cde Rose Mpofu. I’m aware of that matter because it was raised with the First Lady and she briefed us about it,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Virginia Mabhiza, also responding to Cde Mpofu’s pleas, said a holder of an offer letter could initiate an eviction process through the courts.

Cde Mpofu said she was forced to share her Mopani Put Farms with its former white owner, Petros Ludeke, despite her having an offer letter to the property.

The visually impaired legislator said when Ludeke passed away, his body was buried at the property without her consent despite the fact that the white farmer had another farm in Esigodini.

“After the white farmer’s death, his son came from Britain and demanded to live on the farm. Their cattle are still grazing at my farm and I’m really appealing for help because I’m visually impaired. Maybe they are taking advantage of that,” said Cde Mpofu.

“They had the audacity to bury the white man on the farm that was given to me by the Government, yet they have another one in Esigodini. I fought for the liberation of this country and I think it’s unfair that those we were fighting for plundering our resources continue to bring misery to our lives in a liberated Zimbabwe.”

Meanwhile, Cde Mnangagwa warned land barons that have taken a lot of money from desperate home seekers that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.

Still on the land issue, Cde Mnangagwa said a new Minister of Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland South to replace Cde Abednico Ncube would be appointed soon.

He said the new Provincial Minister and the lands committee team would be expected to finish the process of acquiring farms and provide land for people.

President Robert Mugabe recently appointed Cde Ncube to the ministry of Rural Development Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey