LACK of constant supervision has had a negative impact on the implementation of Government’s Command Agriculture programme in Nyanga, as some land remains underutilised.

Addressing hundreds of land-seekers in Nyanga last week, Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Moses Gutu said most projects in the district were not progressing well due to absentee land owners who were not monitoring and evaluating activity at their farms.

“Most farms here were given to tourists, who only come once in a while to visit their farms,” he said.

“The majority of the people on these farms are workers. We have seen cases of human-wildlife conflict escalating in Nyanga because wild animals are now hibernating on these unused farms,” said Cde Gutu.

“Most of the land in the district is unproductive because those allocated the farms had no interest in farming.”

Cde Gutu said corruption in the land distribution process was another challenge hindering progress.

“I have noticed that there is corruption and lack of seriousness,” he said. “Applicants are told everyday that there is no land on offer. Land seekers should be given small pieces of land so that everyone gets something. It should be enough to ensure that the country regains its breadbasket of Africa status.”

The Zimbabwe Land Commission is carrying out an agricultural land audit meant to identify land utilisation patterns and farming activities which influence appropriate policies for increased agricultural productivity, poverty alleviation and sustainable utilisation of agricultural land.