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

Dangamvura legislator Esau Mupfumi says Zimbabweans in rural areas should be given title deeds to their land so that they can be paid compensation if they are relocated.

Mupfumi’s sentiments were contradictory to those of fellow legislator Joseph Mapiki of Shamva Sputh who said people being resettled on acquired land must not be given title deeds because this could lead to recolonisation when they fail to use that land and surrender it to whites.

Mupfumi said it pained him to see people that were given land being denied title deeds yet this land was taken from white who had deeds to that land.

“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,” he said in his contribution to the debate on the Land Commission Bill. 

“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.”

Full contribution

*HON. MUPFUMI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  I would want to thank the Minister for the Land Commission Bill.  The struggle in this country was there because of land.  The sanctions that we are seized with now, which were imposed on us by the West and supported by their friends on the other side were because of land.

 HON. NDEBELE:  On a point of order Hon. Speaker, could the Hon. Member be asked to withdraw his statement.  Such statements do not work well for nation building at all; they are retrogressive.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order.  Which statement exactly?

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