ZANU PF has bowed down to pressure from the Tshangani community in Chiredzi and has allocated the bulk of sugarcane plots grabbed from sugar producer, Tongaat Hullet, to the tribe, Newsday has established.
By Tatenda Chitagu
Last month, Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora had to travel to Masvingo to quell the anger from Tshangani chiefs. He addressed a heated closed door meeting at Benjamin Burombo building, which was attended by the traditional leaders, Zanu PF officials, police and intelligence bosses, as well as Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa.
This was after Zanu PF members were at each other’s throats over the allocation of lucrative sugarcane plots in the Lowveld, which have become the new feeding trough for ruling party members.
Mombeshora, after the May 11 meeting, confirmed that the chiefs’ had complained of exclusion in the allocation of the lucrative sugarcane plots.
He ordered that 60% of beneficiaries should be from Chiredzi; 20% war vets, 10% civil servants and 10% uniformed forces
True to Mombeshora’s word, 196 beneficiaries, largely comprising of the Tshanagani community, senior government officials, ruling party activists and chefs relatives were last week given offer letters to take plots with ripe cane after government took over almost 4 000 hectares from the sugar producer. Trade unionists said the move would render close to 2 000 workers jobless.
Sources said some chiefs were given more than the stipulated 20 hectares per person, while their aides also got large chunks of land, which they may not be able to use productively.
The allocation criteria, which came after the transfer of almost the entire Lands ministry officials after Mahofa accused them of corruption, has left the already divided Zanu PF in tatters, as those who lost out are crying foul.
“The allocation was not done fairly. Some of us who were on the list of beneficiaries were struck off at the last minute and replaced by the Tshanganis after the chiefs pressurised government, and they got many hectares, which
they may not be able to use,” an insider said.
Mahofa yesterday refused to shed light on the issue, referring all questions to the Lands ministry.
“I do not know about the beneficiaries, go and get the list from the Ministry of Lands. The have the full list,” she said, despite that she chairs the provincial lands committee that determines beneficiaries.
Acting provincial lands officer, Tendai Mumera, could not be reached for a comment yesterday.