The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT must speed up the process of downsizing numerous underutilised farms in Manicaland in a move aimed at increasing productivity, senior Zanu PF officials have said.
Government is conducting a comprehensive land audit with the view to down size some of the large farms, improve production on under-utilised farms and curb multiple farm ownership.
In their contributions during the Manicaland Zanu PF Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting held at Mutare Polytechnic last Friday, senior ruling party officials took turns to express the need to downsize farms that are not being fully utilised.
Zanu PF Central Committee member representing Nyanga Cde Moses Gutu said party leadership in his district is ready to assist Government identifying numerous A1 and A2 farms distributed under the land reform, that are not being utilised.
“We have a lot of underutilised farms in Nyanga district. We have farmers who got land that they not utilising at all yet we know how much that land can produce if utilised. We can actually show you the land even if we were to go to Nyanga right now. We know the farms we are talking about and we wonder why Government is taking long to come down and downsize these farms so that people can start producing. We believe that this is the time to say the truth for the benefit of our economy hence the need to say out these things,” he said.
In her response, Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, who is also chairperson of the Provincial Lands Committee, said: “When we took over these farms, some were excited about prospects of owning vast tracts of land not knowing that farming is expensive.
“It was only after some time that people realised that farming is expensive hence that land is lying idle. The challenge that we have now is that the same people still want to hold on to that land even when they are not using it. Then there are others who have large tracts of land but they are utilising that land.
“We surely cannot disturb production at this juncture where we need production. This is matter we are seized with. It is only that we have been tied up with Cyclone Idai issues and now that the pressure is decreasing in Chimanimani, we are certainly going to move with speed as we look into that issue”.
During the same meeting, party officials heard that Government has set aside $70 million for provision of People’s Shops in a move that is aimed at curtailing wanton increment of prices of basic commodities.
Consumers have been left in the receiving end in recent months as the cost of living is now beyond their reach as a result of incessant price increases of basic commodities.
Minister of Information, Services Cde Monica Mutsvangwa bemoaned the unjustifiable increases of commodities by companies such as the giant sugar manufacturers — Tongaat Hullett.
“We are fully aware of acts of economic sabotage that are going on which however do not come as a surprise because some elements in the political arena declared that they would spoil the broth. We are wondering what really happens in Zimbabwe that justifies 100 percent increase in prices of basic commodities within a week. It is clear sabotage. What is Tongaat Hullett importing in its production of sugar that justifies the current prices? What currency are they using in paying their workers that warrants these increases?
“We will soon see the introduction of People’s Shops in all corners of the countries from cities, towns to villages. Silo products will be sold at affordable prices in these shops. As Government, we have already set aside $70 million to fund the provision of People’s Shops and more funds are already being sourced to ensure that we compete at the same level with these unscrupulous elements in business,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the People’s Shops would be wholly owned by Government.
“We are aware that there are people who want to prove that Zanu PF has failed through unjustifiable price increases in supermarkets. However, the People’s Shops will be 100 percent owned by Government operating at a non-profit model so that our people can afford basics. This is meant to deal with triple price mark ups that we are witnessing in this country. Rive, mealie-meal, sugar, stock feeds, school uniforms, detergents and other basics will be sold in these shops. Government will soon find partners to see to it that this idea comes to fruition,” she said.
Speaking during the same event, ruling Zanu PF Manicaland chairman Cde Mike Madiro, who is also Home Affairs Deputy Minister, said the idea to have People’s Shops was a better option for Government than implementing price controls.
“We have gone the price controls way before and we all know the consequences. We have learnt from our past. The idea to have People’s Shops was a better option for Government than implementing price controls.
“In fact, this is supply side management effort by Government and it is meant to give competition to those increasing prices unjustifiably. As political party these are the things that we are supposed to explain to our membership and citizens in general,” said Cde Madiro.
