Second Republic willing to return seized ZIPRA properties

Bulawayo (New Ziana)-The Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa is willing to return all the properties belonging to former Zipra fighters that were seized during disturbances that occurred soon after independence.

The former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army fighters contributed their demobilisation pay-outs and purchased various properties across the country.

Some of the properties were seized by the government after some disturbances in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands in the early 1980s.

Addressing ex-ZIPRA cadres at McDonald Hall in Mzilikazi high density suburb, former ZIPRA commander and ZANU PF politburo member Tshinga Dube said the new dispensation was willing to address the matter which has been dragging for over 40 years.

“Most comrades who approached the President were told that government was willing to hand over properties provided that we go through the Zanu PF vice president (Kembo) Mohadi.

“Recently the (Zanu PF) vice president Mohadi called me to his office and gave me an order that we form a committee that would be able to come up with a register of all ZPRA properties which will be sent to him,” he said.

Dube told the ZIPRA veterans that he was an emissary of President Mnangagwa and was sent to explain government position on returning of seized properties and also to form a committee that would assist in identifying and listing the properties.

“We are gathered here, not to discuss politics, but business. Why business? You are all aware that we could not discuss this subject for 40 years. We do so today under the new dispensation, which has opened the room for tolerance and to exercise the freedom that we fought for,” he said.

“We are all aware that the background to the properties came about due to the teething problems that out country went through in the infant stages of our freedom in 1980 to 1987.

He said the administration of former President Robert Mugabe administration promised to return the properties but nothing materialised.

“The late Cde Msika announced to us that there was an agreement reached to return the properties, but nothing happened. This was followed by the death of Cde Msika, then came VP John Nkomo who also promised us that our properties will be returned, likewise nothing happened,” said Dube, adding a number of groups pursued the case without any clear outcomes.

“Recently, after the new dispensation, His Excellency the President, came with a new policy that all outstanding problems from the first government must be transparently solved, thus, even the sensitive Gukurahundi issue,” he said.

Dube applauded President Mnangagwa for solving the problem of comrades who were unjustly dismissed from the Zimbabwe National Army in 1983.

“Now their problem has been solved after almost 40 years and I hear they will be compensated for forty years salaries and also registered onto pension fund.

Dube told the cadres not to mix ZAPU properties with ZIPRA, saying Zapu properties were integrated with Zanu to form ZANU PF.

He said when these properties were returned, a board of directors would be formed, which would discuss the distribution modalities to cater for all shareholders.

Those who have passed on would be represented by their widows or children, he explained.

New Ziana