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President Mugabe

Talent Gore Herald Reporter
Youths yesterday hailed Government’s move to avail land for residential stands to them saying this demonstrated President Mugabe’s commitment to empowerment programmes.

Interviewed youth leaders and youth organisations said President Mugabe was “spot on” as most of them had not benefited from the land reform programme.

Government on Wednesday availed 1 000 hectares of land for residential stands in Harare as part of President Mugabe’s response to requests made by the youths during the One-Million-Man March held in May.

The land is in Shawasha B, Harare South and Norton.

Thousands of youths from Harare, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West are expected to benefit from the stands.

The stands will be developed by the Urban Development Corporation.

Zimbabwe Youth Council assistant director (youth programming) Tanzikwa Guranungo said the youths would forever treasure President Mugabe’s visionary leadership.

“As the Zimbabwe Youth Council, the registrar of youth associations, organisations and clubs we are happy with what President Mugabe has done for the youths in the country and we are excited that we are going to be landlords soon,” he said.

“This simply shows that the President, as evidenced through his speeches at various platforms, has the young ones at heart.

“Since most young did not benefit from the land reform, we think availing residential stands will make young people proud of their President and the country. This is a good gesture that will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges the youths are facing.”

zanu-pf Mashonaland East youth leader Cde Kelvin Mutsvairo said President Mugabe was a man of his words.

“As the youths, we have always, are always and will always rally behind the President,” he said.

“President Mugabe, whether or not its election time, champions the empowerment of the youths and women and his gestures in Harare and Bulawayo show that he is a man on a mission. This is why those moves by shadowy groups calling themselves by different names will come to naught.”

zanu-pf youth leader for Harare Province Cde Edson Takataka said the youths had always been in need of housing.

“What is now important is to complement this good development by ensuring that intended beneficiaries get the stands,” he said.

“There is a tendency by some greedy bigwigs to hijack and take what belongs to the youths. This is an effort that should be supported by any progressive mind.”

Added Mashonaland West youth leader Cde Tawanda Rupiya: “This move is the first of its kind and I see most youths coming to zanu-pf because it has proved to be a party that is people oriented.

“We have belief that these programmes will be spread to every part of the country such that doubting Thomases see for themselves.”