More land earmarked for seizure

The government of President Robert Mugabe has identified an additional 2,237 white-owned farm properties for resettlement by landless blacks, the official daily, ‘The Herald’, reported on Tuesday. With 804 farms already earmarked, it said the additional farms would bring the total facing seizure to 3,041.

Quoting a statement from the Chairman of the National Land Acquisition Committee, Vice-President Joseph Msika, it said the necessary paperwork was being processed. “The whole exercise is being undertaken against the government goal of acquiring about five million hectares from the commercial farming sector for distribution to the landless people for fairness and greater productivity,” he told the newspaper.
A total of 664 farms were identified in Mashonaland East, followed by Mashonaland West with 617, Matabeleland South 465, Mashonaland Central 361, Midlands 321, Manicaland 284, Masvingo 237 and Matabeleland North 92.

“It is also government’s expectation that all stakeholders, including political groups and the commercial farmers, will come in full support of the exercise, which is national in intention, scope and benefit,” he said. “To facilitate the implementation of this programme, the National Land Acquisition Committee will henceforth meet everyday to ensure the success of the implementation process.”