War veterans threaten ‘corrupt land officers’

By The NewsDay | Feb. 24, 2015 | 2 Min read

War veterans have threatened lands officers in Mashonaland East province with unspecified action over alleged shady land deals.

BY Jairos Saunyama

Addressing thousands of war veterans in Marondera last week, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda said they were aware of land officers who were corruptly allocating State land to their cronies.

“We are hearing a number of cases of double allocations in this province and we ask why this is happening. The lands officers in this province have been doing this for a long time, but it has to stop. Why is it that there are no double allocations on rich people’s land?” Matemadanda said.

He blasted land officers in the provincial for leaving former Zanu PF provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde with huge tracts of land. Matemadanda urged war veterans to prepare for fresh farm invasions set for March.

“There is a land baron who owns a quarter of this province because he was a former chairman. The issue of someone getting land and distributing it to his numerous girlfriends has come to an end. If the Resident minister (Joel Biggie Matiza) says grab the land, do not say that I am pregnant or what, you will give birth there. Just wait for his order and take action,” Matemadanda said.

Speaking at the same event, Matiza said allocation of land to war veterans would start next month.

“After the land audit, we realised that there were hidden pockets of land. We also realised that some of us have many farms, while others have fake title deeds lying that they bought the farms,” Matiza said.

Keep Reading

“Now that we allocated land to the traditional leaders, we are now set for allocating freedom fighters some land. This is going in line with resolutions passed during the congress. So beginning of March we will be allocating land to freedom fighters, youths and women.”