By Lloyd Takawira
The ruling ZANU PF party has said it will not reserve the chaotic land reform programme, but compensate former white farmers for improvements they made during their years of occupation.
In a statement ZANU PF said that the land reform program is irreversible.
“We wish to clarify that the land reform program is irreversible. The redistribution of land under the Land Redistribution Program is one that Zanu PF guards jealously,” the statement read.
ZANU PF also went on the clarify, that compensation of former white commercial farmers is in fulfillment of the 2013 constitution.
“The issues pertaining to the land question was settled by the 2013 constitution, section 279 as read with subsections 7&8. Not every white former commercial farmer would receive compensation save for those falling under two specified categories,” reads the statement.
In a major climbdown, the Ministry of Lands also issued a statement of rebuttal saying, the statements regarding the issue of the Land Reform are misplaced and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
“We reiterate that the land is the birthright of all indigenous Zimbabweans and we will guard it jealously as we strive towards fostering food security and the fulfilment of Vision 2030.”
There was a public outcry after Lands Minister and Finance Minister, Anxious Masuka and Mthuli Ncube at a joint press conference on Wednesday said that Zimbabwe was going to compensate former white farmers improvements on the land they have been occupying much to the chagrin of veterans of the liberation struggle as well as opposition parties.
At a press conference held on Thursday war veterans chided President Mnangagwa saying , he was offside on the land issue.
Similary, the opposition MDC Alliance said the governing Zanu PF party was deviating from the constitution. The opposition also criticised the government on compensation arguing that reperation on land should be a responsibility of beneficiaries of the chaotic land reform program.
