Zanu (PF) Leaders Cling To Farms Acquired During Land Grab
15/05/2011 17:16:00
BULAWAYO, May 15, 2011- Scores of senior Zanu (PF) officials, including
close family members of President Robert Mugabe continue to cling to
multiple farms which they obtained free of charge under the controversial
land reform programme.
According to documents in possession of Radio Vop, powerful Zanu (PF)
politicians, some of whom were named in the controversial Flora Buka Land
Audit Report had still not come forward to give up their ill-gotten
properties.Previous government attempts to reclaim some of the farms
appeared to be targeted at only small plot holders under the fast-track A1
resettlement scheme while the commercial model under which a number of Zanu
(PF) heavy weighs and business people connected to the former ruling party
acquired scores of farms free of charge has been largely left unruffled.
President Mugabe and his close family members lead the pack of influential
people who have benefitted from the chaotic and controversial land reform
programme. Mugabe himself is alleged to be the proud owner of 13 farms while
his close relatives, wife and in- laws own a total of 26 farms. Some of the
farms owned by Mugabe include Gushungo Estates, (Mazowe), Gushungo Dairies
(Mazowe) Iron Mask Estate (Mazowe) Sigaru farm (Mazowe) Gwebi Wood (Mazowe)
Gwinha farm (Banket), Highfield farm (Norton) Cressydale Estate (Norton )
and John O’ Groat farm in Norton.
Some of the president’s close relatives who own multiple farms are Leo
Mugabe, Nyangadza farm (Mhangura), ,Journey’s End (Makonde) and Diandra
farm in Mashonaland West. Reward Marufu, Mugabe’s wife cousin owns Leopards
Vlei (Glendale), Kachere farm (Mazowe), Grace Mugabe , Smithfiled
Extension (Mazowe and Iron Mask farm also in Mazowe.The late Mugabe’s sister
Sabina had five farms. The farms are Mimosa of Lembwe in Makonde, Gowrie
farm in Norton, Golden Stairs and Audley End in Mashonaland West.
The Minister of Youth Development and Indigenisation Saviour Kasukuwere also
owns four farms while Local government minister, Ignatius Morgan Chombo owns
three farms. Kasukuwere owns Harmony farm, Pimento (Mazowe), Conucorpia
farm, (Mazowe), Bretton farm and Bamboo Creek in Shamva. Chombo owns Allan
Grange farm in Raffingora, Oldham farm in Chegutu and Shingwiri farm also in
Chegutu.
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu owns five farms in Matabeleland .Mpofu’s farms
are Umguza Block 39, Umguza 40, Umguza 41,Auchenbery of Rochester and Young
farm in Nyamandlovu.This development has prompted a vociferous outcry from
the former white commercial farmers, landless peasants and other disaffected
groups whose chances of owning land have been scuppered by Zanu (PF)
heavyweights.
“ The one man one farm policy seems applicable only to a certain section of
our society while some people are multiple owners of land. White commercial
farmers rights have been trampled in this country ” said Commercial Farmers
Union of Zimbabwe (CFUZ) president, Deon Theron during the union‘s meeting
held in Bulawayo on Friday.