White farmers given ultimatum

The Mashonaland Central Provincial Lands Committee has given an ultimatum to some white farmers whose land was gazetted to wind up their operations and pave way for holders of offer letters.

Several newly-resettled farmers in the province who had been finding it difficult to occupy land allocated to them under the agrarian reform have finally been granted permission to move into their farms.

The chairperson of the provincial lands committee, Advocate Martin Dinha, says the lands committee has resolved to despatch a team comprising police, district administrators and other government officials tomorrow to ensure that white farmers wind up their operations.

Advocate Dinha condemned the behaviour of some politicians whom he said are allegedly protecting white farmers at the expense of indigenous people who hold offer letters.

Some of the affected farms are Tizora and Sandlands in Centenary and Larashel under Muzarabani, which was allocated to Chief Kasekete.

Under the Consequential Provision Land Act 20-20, continuing to occupy gazetted land without an offer letter is a crime which can attract a maximum penalty of two years in prison.