ZANU-PF MP contradicts his colleague and says rural people must be given title to land

HON. NDEBELE:  My shona may not be good but “iyoyo yekuti shamwari dzavo dzakagara uko but they spend more time overseas than we do.” – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order.  There is no insult when you say “shamwari dzangu.”  There is no insult there, it is in good humour.  Thank you.

*HON. MUPFUMI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker for your understanding.  You know it and it is on record that when we took our land in Darwendale, the whites were busy writing cheques in order to reverse the land issue.  That is why I am saying their friends are on my right.  Besides that, the Minister’s plans are in good faith that there should be a commission which should look into the issue of those who were allocated more farms so that it goes well for everyone.

However, what pains me is that these farms which we are talking about are the same farms which belonged to the whites.  The owners are being given 99 year leases but what pains me is that where our parents and grandparents are settled, they do not have title deeds.  If you look at countries like Nigeria, you find that the rural people have title deeds but our people who are settled in the rural areas do not have anything.  If they are being relocated, they do not get any compensation.  Up to now, they do not hold any claim to that land.  So, I think a law should be enacted so that our people have title deeds.  When they want to engage in business, at least they should be known where they stay.  They should also have 99 year leases, which are the same as those that are given to newly resettled farmers.  Thank you.

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