200 000 Zimbabweans waiting for land but highly unlikely 10% will get it

HON. MBONDIAH:  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is that there is a timeframe from the time of application and the time of allocation before one is allocated land because there are people who have been on the waiting list since 2018 and they still have not been allocated land.  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. DR. MASUKA:  Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank the Hon. Member for seeking clarification from the time of application to the time of allocation.  As things stand, we urge the District Lands Committees and Provincial Land Committees to expeditiously identify land that is available for distribution and to transmit this for administrative processing at the Ministry.  However, I have indicated Hon. Speaker Sir that we have 200 000 applications and when we have distributed over 90% of the land, a mere 18 000 A2 farmers have benefitted.  It is therefore highly unlikely that 10% of this waiting list will be able to fit into the remaining allocation because that is what we have.

One would want to see the process expedited and we think that we have put in place and in motion all the required policy guidelines to enable District Lands Committees and Provincial Lands Committees to expeditiously address this aspect of the delay.  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. SIKHALA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.  My supplementary question to the Hon. Minister is whether there is a shift in policy from his Ministry in terms of allocation for land to those who have applied because many landless people are complaining that they have applied, for land but they are being denied on partisan grounds.  Is there discrimination on the allocation of people who have applied for land?  If sure, would the Minister furnish us with the information of any member from the opposition who has once been allocated land or it remains a partisan programme?  There are many here who have applied – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, there are many who have applied, whom I know.  I want statistics from the Minister.  Is there still discrimination in the allocation of land to those people who want to be farmers?  I do not want to be a farmer but I am speaking on behalf of those who want to farm.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, WATER, FISHERIES AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT (HON. DR. MASUKA): Mr. Speaker Sir, I thank Hon. Sikhala for the question.  There is no shift in policy and there is no discrimination.  Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir.

HON. PETER MOYO: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. How long does it take for the Ministry officials to identify the unutilised land in Zimbabwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Rwodzi and someone else there, if you want a duel, please go outside and enjoy it.  Thank you.

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