Chombo takes high-priced farm allocated War Veterans
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Staff Reporter 20 hours 22 minutes ago
HARARE – Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius
Chombo has directed three farmers who were given offer letters at Crowhill
Farm to vacate the area to pave way for what he called urban development and
approach the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement to get appropriate
land for agricultural purposes.
It now appears the three are fighting a lost battle, as the government has
finally incorporated the farm into the Greater Harare plan.
One of the farmers, Cde Lindani Maadza, insists that they were allocated
Crowhill Farm under the land reform programme, but Chombo said the land
under dispute is designated for urban development and the farmers should
approach the relevant ministry to get appropriate land for agriculture.
Chombo is believed to be taking most high-priced land around cities and
selling it for his own benefit.
Documents shown to the media show that Crowhill Farm was allocated to three
farmers including Cde Maadza in 2003 under the land reform programme.
However, Minister Chombo revealed that the farm was erroneously acquired as
it belonged to a businessman Ozias Bvute and is currently being subdivided
by Msipa Land Developers for residential stands in line with urban
development statutory instruments.