MP says Parliament should vet members of the Land Commission before they are sworn in

Full contribution

*HON. GWANETSA: Thank you Madam Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution on this important Bill.  I am also grateful to the Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee Hon. Chitindi for tackling this Land Commission Bill.  In as far as I am concerned, this is a very important decision which has been made by Government by putting in place a Land Commission Bill.

Our history tells us that our forefathers died because they wanted to regain their land from the imperialists, the Britons who had taken the land up and we know of the first war of liberation where our forefathers fought the whites.  The second war of liberation led to the death of the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe abroad in countries like Cuba and other countries.   I am saying, this Commission should be empowered in such a way that it will rectify all the anomalies which led to the death of the sons and daughters who fought for our soil.  We should make it a point that we correct all the mistakes in the proper manner because if we make mistakes in trying to solve this problem, our great grand children will in future blame us for the poor handling of the land situation.

When we embarked on the fast tract land reform, we know the mistakes which were done in the process and this happens in any revolution, hence we have to correct all the anomalies and the problems which occurred during that Land Reform Programme.  In other words, we have to look at the personalities of the people who are to be members of this Land Commission.  We also have to look at the criteria used in selecting them.

(An Hon. Member having passed between the Chair and the member speaking.)

*THE DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Order, Hon. Member.  I thought by now you should know that passing through the Chair and the member speaking is not allowed.

*HON. GWANETSA: Madam Speaker, the point I am trying to put across is that we know during the Land Reform Programme, there were some mistakes which were done because it was something which was new. We are saying this Land Commission Bill should now rectify this problem.  This Land Commission should work and produce a report to be presented to His Excellency, the President, Cde. Mugabe.  The Commission should also tackle corrupt activities in the allocation of land because we know our leader is an upright man who fights corruption and he fought until the country was liberated. 

I am saying the Commission should be scrutinised especially the members of this Commission, they need to be vetted and scrutinised by members of this august House so that we check on their worthiness to be members of this Land Commission.

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