Garwe calls for a land audit in Mashonaland East

By Archford Chirimudombo

MARONDERA- Zanu PF provincial chairman Daniel Garwe recently called for a land audit in Mashonaland East as land barons’ notorierity in the province continues to rear its ugly head.

He made the call at a meeting which was held at the ruling party’s provincial headquarters in Marondera.

“The issue of land barons who are fleecing homeseekers of their hard earned cash remains problematic. They are creating chaos by allocating State land to unsuspecting buyers without following the proper procedures. We want a land audit to be carried out here in Mashonaland East and those involved in unlawful land deals should have their day in court,” he said.

Garwe, who is also the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities said the issue of land barons should be decicively dealt with as people must be proud owners of homes that have title deeds and security of tenure.

He said: “Harsh measures against land barons should be imposed as the activities such culprits are leading to the loss of cash by desperate home seekers as well as the degradation of land in certain areas.”

Speaking on the El-Nino-induced drought that the country is facing, Garwe said the Government has put in place measures to ensure that no one starves.

“As we all know, we did not receive adequate rains in the 2023-2024 farming season. However, President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa has since declared the drought a national disaster and the food distribution programme has been rolled out in several districts. I would like to say that there has not been, and will never be, discrimination on partisan grounds when it comes to the distribution of food aid,” he said.

Garwe’s remarks quashed reports in some sections of the media that opposition supporters have been denied food aid as punishment for not supporting the ruling revolutionary Zanu PF party.

President Mnangagwa is on record record saying that Government will ensure that there is enough grain in the country to avert starvation due to the drought.

Addressing delegates during the 122nd ordinary session of the central committee meeting at Zanu PF headquarters in Harare recently, President Mnangagwa ordered ruling party officials to take part in identifying hungry citizens.

As I stated in my recent declaration of a nationwide state of disaster due to the drought last week, our Zanu PF government will not let anyone starve. Our government is capable of handling this situation.

“We have put in place measures to ensure that enough food is available. The party should play its part in the timely identification of those in need of assistance, the Head of State and Government said.