Urban land sales probe intensifies
Other members of the Commission that will conduct its inquiry within 12 months are Dr Tarisai Mutangi, Dr Heather Chingono, Ms Petronella Musarurwa, Mr Stephen Chakaipa, Mr Andrew Mlalazi and Ms Vimbai Nyemba.
The appointment of the Commission of Inquiry followed the mushrooming of illegal settlements in most urban areas, most of which were established from the illegal sale of State land by land barons.
Speaking by telephone from Harare yesterday, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza, who is secretary to the Commission of Inquiry said since 2005 there has been a lot of land barons settling people on undesignated State land and Government was moving in to address the situation.
“The reason why we delimited to 2005 is because it is at that particular time that issues of urban State land started to crop up. Traditionally issues to do with housing in Zimbabwe were in the domain of municipalities but now because issues of housing became a very important part of public policy especially as it coincided with the freedoms and rights to housing and shelter,” she said.
“As a result of a lot of land barons and illegal land transactions that have cropped up over a long period of time, the Government is actually desirous to chlorinate such elements.”
The mushrooming of illegal settlements has in the past led to demolitions of residential structures prejudicing ordinary people of their hard-earned cash.
Most of the settlements do not have water and sewer reticulation and other infrastructure such as roads, electricity, schools and clinics. After completing its inquiry, the Commission of Inquiry is expected to come up with a comprehensive report to present to President Mnangagwa. — @okazunga THE national war veterans leadership have compared former president Mr Robert Mugabe’s level of betrayal to that of liberation struggle sellout, Morrison Nyathi.
At the height of the liberation struggle, Nyathi — a Zanla fighter — led Rhodesian Selous Scouts to Nyadzonia Camp in Mozambique where they massacred over 1 000 guerillas.
It is recorded as one of the worst massacres during the 14-year-long war.
Mr Mugabe announced just before the election that he was going to vote for MDC Alliance leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, a clear indication that he had turned his back on Zanu-PF.
Addressing war veterans and Zanu-PF supporters in Harare, national liberation war veterans association secretary general, Cde Victor Matemadanda said by voting MDC Alliance, a party that has been his rival since 1999, instead of the revolutionary party, Mr Mugabe had sold out.
“People can be bought just like how Mugabe was bought,” said Cde Matemadanda. “During his rule, he has been telling Zimbabweans to persevere. Mugabe saw children perishing, but continued to say continue fighting, but he now stands up to say I will not vote for Zanu-PF.
“If you hate (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa or Matemadanda, are their faces written Zanu-PF? Were you always doing good for us all during your 40-year reign? People have asked you to rest because the body is tired and you still want Zimbabweans to continue following you. No.
“That shows us that selling out has no age or level. Mugabe has sold out. Mugabe and Nyathi are now in the same class because Nyathi wanted the revolution to end on that day and Mugabe wanted Zanu-PF and the revolution to perish on July 30 2018.
“So, Mugabe and Nyathi are one person and deserve the same treatment.”
Cde Matemadanda described Mr Mugabe as a merchant of destabilisation and that was the basis upon which people went into the street to demonstrate against his rule in November last year.
“As long as people feel that the revolution is now being derailed, we will revive it the same way we did in November,” he said. “We fought for land. This dispensation that we now have is not for leaders, but for the people of Zimbabwe.
“So, there are some people who cannot limit their frustration, who want to end their frustration on everybody. There are some merchants of destabilisation.”
Turning to the violence that rocked Harare on Wednesday last week, Cde Matemadanda blamed Mr Chamisa whom he said had grabbed power in his party through the backdoor.
He castigated the international media and other organisations for failing to give prominence to the destruction that Zanu-PF suffered at its offices, saying there was going to be huge outcry had the same thing occurred to the opposition. “The European Union should come and view this damage inflicted on Zanu-PF,” said Cde Matemadanda. “They should not turn a blind eye to this damage.”
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson, Cde Goodwills Masimirembwa, hailed Zanu-PF supporters, saying they did well compared to previous elections.
“Yes, we might have not done well in Harare, but the numbers that we got surpassed the previous election,” he said. “We are happy that our President won and he will carry forward his vision.”
for the party to win the polls considering the prevailing economic hardships.
“Obviously, we go into an election to win. However, the urban set up which has challenges of job creation and cash shortages among other issues affected the urban voters. But we hope to turn the tables as the economic engines start turning around under President Emmerson Mnangagwa leadership. I don’t believe that people in Bulawayo hate Zanu-PF,” said Cde Mashaba,
“As a party, although we lost to the opposition we are happy with the voting patterns. In the 2013 elections we had just over 30 000 voters in the presidential race and in this election our numbers increased to more than 60 000. Even our constituencies performed relatively well as compared to the past election.”
Cde Mashaba said Zanu-PF Bulawayo province will build on the groundwork that has been laid so far.
He said the party was investigating the alleged “planting” of some voters in Bulawayo constituencies.
“We believe there are some voters who might not be staying in Bulawayo who voted in Bulawayo constituencies. So we are looking into that. But that does not mean we are not accepting the poll results,” said Cde Mashaba.
He said the party’s focus was to rebuild the economy under President Mnangagwa as revival of Bulawayo industries under the special economic zones and construction of houses will be on the party’s top agenda. He challenged Mr Chamisa to accept the poll results to pave way for economic development.