Zimbabwe legislator says land should not be used as an election campaign tool

We are talking of the land audit.  Mr. Speaker Sir, I want the Bill to be very clear on women’s position in terms of land ownership. It should look at the vulnerable in terms of ownership; the child headed families, where do they fit when it comes to land audit, are they being considered as land owners because they are heading a family?  Social Welfare Department is giving out food and handouts because they know that these are child headed families.  I feel that they should be considered when it comes to land ownership.

On women empowerment, at the moment farmers are having problems of accessing bank loans and other inputs.  When it comes to agricultural inputs, it is the head of the family or the head of the compound that is given inputs and women are not being considered.  Like I said earlier, women should be land owners and should be provided with inputs.  Also they should relax the requirements for women to get bank loans and all other financial services.

The reason why women are not benefiting is because politicians are using land as bait for getting votes at the end of their term.  I think the Bill should stop politicians from using land as campaign tool.  Hon. Nduna this other day mentioned that if the husband passes on, the wife should be given 50% of the property.  It should not be 50% following the husband’s death but it this should be done when both spouses are still alive.  I think Hon. Nduna was referring to inheritance; that is inheritance.   Also, there should be a link between women in agriculture, mining and land.  They should be linked so that they work together to enhance and advance women’s interests.

Last but not least, we want to see gender equality in the Land Commission.

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