We will overcome onslaught: ED Conclusion of land deal vindicates Second Republic
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday said the country will overcome renewed attacks on the country perpetrated by some rogue Zimbabweans working in league with foreign detractors to destabilise the nation.
In his address at State House in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said since his inauguration, the Second Republic has faced many attacks from the divisive politics of some opposition elements, the illegal economic sanctions, cyclones, droughts and more recently, the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Added to this, the President said, is economic aggression where there is local currency manipulation and detractors who fear the success of his administration’s reforms.
The country has in recent weeks come under attack firstly by the failed July 31 planned demonstrations by the opposition and their foreign handlers.
Last week President Mnangagwa presided over the signing of the historic Global Compensation Deed ( GCD) where 4000 former white commercial farmers who lost their land during the Government’s fast track land reform programme will be compensated with a US$3,5 billion facility for improvements they made on the land.
For many years the issue of dispossessed farmers has been political fodder for the opposition and hostile foreign forces but the signing of the GDC has taken away the marrow from the enemies of Zimbabwe.
This has led to the hashtag #ZimbabweLivesMatter, itself a stolen hashtag coined by patriotic Zimbabweans calling for the removal of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Some opposition elements working with foreign agents have in the past days bastardised the hashtag and using it to invite attacks on the country.
Prominent among the attackers are Mr Mmusi Maimane the former leader of the Democratic Alliance, a white supremist party in South Africa.
Curiously also is the adoption of the hashtag by Economic freedom Fighters (EEF) president Mr Julius Malema whose liaisons with the members of the notorious G40 cabal is well documented exposing the hatchet plot to destabilise the country.
President Mnangagwa said despite the
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THE conclusion of the Global Compensation Deed (agreement) shows the Second Republic’s commitment to constitutionalism and rule of law as well as bringing finality to the successful land redistribution process, a Cabinet Minister has said.
In 2000, Zimbabwe embarked on a Land Reform programme for the resettlement of citizens on agricultural land. In line with the Constitution, the Government was compensating former farm owners for the compulsory acquisition of the land.
The Government and the former white commercial farmers’ representatives finalised the Global Compensation Deed agreeing that Zimbabwe would pay the ex-farmers US$3,5 billion for improvements, including biological assets and land clearing costs.
In a communique issued yesterday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Government and the former farmers’ representatives had engaged in extensive negotiations over the global compensation figure, leading to the closure of the chapter.
“The conclusion of the Global Compensation Deed (agreement) which was signed in Harare on Wednesday 29 July 2020 is in compliance with the Constitution and Government’s respect for the rule of law.
“It is also a reflection of the Second Republic’s political commitment to the successful conclusion of the land redistribution process in a dignified manner that restores the integrity and dignity of all the people of Zimbabwe who were affected by
attacks on the country, his administration’s goal of peace, unity, stability, development, progress and prosperity remains unchanged.
“The dark forces, both inside and outside our borders, have tempered with our growth and prosperity for too long. They have thrived on dividing us. Let us as a people embrace the call for patriotism, hard work, transparency, accountability, love, unity and peace,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Now is the time to embrace the opportunities before us with optimism and determination to transform and modernise our society. The door to the old manner of doing things is shut. The corrupt way is closed.”
President Mnangagwa called on the necessary land Reform,” he said.
In March 2018, the President constituted an Inter-ministerial Compensation Committee led by Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga.
The committee’s mandate was to give overall policy guidance and direction to the compensation negotiation process and the determination of a global compensation amount.
Prof Ncube said the inter-ministerial committee was to be assisted in its work by a Joint Technical Compensation Negotiation Committee (JTCNC) comprising senior Government officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet and other ministries as well as the Compensation Steering Committee representing the former farm owners.
He said negotiations were expected to have been completed by September 30, 2018 but on account of the complex nature of the matter, the discussions went beyond the expected date with a brief stalemate being reached last year.
Resultantly, the Government engaged independent assessors of international standing to review the computations by both parties and to recommend a global valuation figure for the improvements.
“Against this background, the Inter-ministerial Compensation Committee mandated the JTCNC to review the valuations under the following broad terms of reference:
“To come up with a consensus based global compensation amount through negotiations taking into account the recommendations from the regional independent assessors.
“To propose and recommend payment
Zimbabweans to defend the country by being productive and grow the economy and never to allow for the division of the country.
“In unison we must proclaim that ‘enough is enough. This is Zimbabwe, our Motherland and we will defend her from any form of attack’.
“As your President, I vow to continue working harder and walking the talk towards the Vision we have set out. Let us together cultivate a society of hope, and not despair; of inspiration instead of desperation. Unity in place of disunity, love in place of hate, and peace instead of disharmony and instability,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President said his administration modalities including currency of valuation and payment.”
Following the protracted negotiations, the JTCNC in May this year agreed to recommend a global compensation amount for improvements under a structure with provisions that include a global compensation figure of US$3,5 billion with a 50 percent down payment within 12 months of signing the agreement while the balance would be paid over 48 months.
As part of the provisions, Government and the former farm owners would establish a Joint Resource Mobilisation Committee to work with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to raise funds through long-term debt and other financial instruments with a tenure of up to 30 years.
In the event that the said funds are not raised within the envisaged time, the payment period may be extended by written agreement of the parties.
Prof Ncube said the parties were now proceeding to develop and implement a road map for the implementation of the agreement.
“This will include the formulation and implementation of measures and reforms necessary to ensure that the country develops sufficient capacity from productively working the land to repay without distress such additional national debt as may be contracted.
“Government will continue providing for the payment of interim relief payments in the national budget until sufficient funds for the down payment of the global compensation amount have been raised,” he said. — @okazunga
remains committed to enhancing cooperation with friends and partners in the international community, as it entrenches democracy and the rule of law within its jurisdiction.
“In this regard, we will continue to strive to achieve the delicate balance between the maintenance of peace and security on the one hand and protecting civil liberties and individual rights, on the other.
“In all circumstances, public officials and the security services will carry out their duties with appropriate astuteness and resolve. The protection of the right to life is paramount, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and machinations by destructive terrorist opposition groupings.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has appointed Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga as the new Health and Child Care Minister with immediate effect.
The post fell vacant following the sacking of Dr Obadiah Moyo who is facing criminal charges over a procurement deal for medical supplies.
On Monday, the President also appointed Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as the new permanent secretary in the Health Ministry to replace Dr Agnes Mahomva who was reassigned to be the Chief Coordinator, National Response to Covid-19 pandemic in the office of the President and Cabinet in May.
In a statement yesterday, the Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said VP Chiwenga’s appointment to the Health Ministry was with immediate effect.
“In terms of Section 99 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) Act 2013, His Excellency the President, Cde E D Mnangagwa, has appointed Honourable Vice-President Dr CDGN Chiwenga as Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said in making the appointment, President Mnangagwa noted the urgent need to stabilise, restructure and reform the national health delivery system so that it is able to cope with challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensure the quick turn-around in the country’s health care.
On Monday while announcing Air Commodore Chimedza appointment as the new Health Ministry permanent secretary, Dr Sibanda said he brings with him a wealth of experience to the ministry in particular and to the health services sector in general and is expected to refocus the nation’s health delivery services in order to enhance innovation, integrity, transparence, efficiency, and vibrant stakeholder participation as the country fights the war against Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Gibson Mhlanga was the acting permanent secretary following Dr Mahomva’s departure while the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Professor Amon Murwira has been the acting Health and Child Care Minister following Dr Moyo’s dismissal.
Dr Moyo is facing charges of corruption and criminal abuse office over his role in the murky US$60 million deal with medical supplier Drax International.
He was released on $50 000 bail plus a surety of the title deeds for his wife’s house in Eastlea, and is awaiting trial.
Dr Moyo becomes the second Minister to be fired from the current Cabinet, after former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who was shown the exit in August 2019 facing charges of criminal abuse of abuse. — @mashnets