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‘Land reform abusers must face the law’
The Daily Mirror (Zimbabwe)
July 09, 2004

http://www.dailymirror.co.zw/index.cfm?name=natnews&wh=main&sid=4666&ishudate=2004-07-09%

The former District Administrator (DA) for Beitbridge is facing charges of contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act by allegedly making misrepresentations to the Matabeleland South provincial land committee culminating in taking over a ranch in the province.

The alleged improper land allocation case is widely seen as exposing the lack of significant headway since February’s announcement by the Minister of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, John Nkomo that those who own more than one farm should surrender them or face prosecution.

Nkomo’s call against actions warranting Mbedzi’s possible fate were further given weight by the fact that they echoed President Robert Mugabe’s previous sentiments, a development that was expected to spur the responsible authorities into action and bring the culprits to book.

The dissolution of district and provincial land committees in the run up to the commencement of duty by the Utete Land Review Committee was seen as a move to immobilise a structure that had also contributed to and abetted abuses in the land reform programme.

An earlier land audit report by then Minister of State for land resettlement Flora Bhuka made mention of some district land committee members who abused the land reform programme for the benefit of their associates.

When contacted for comment on the sluggish pace at which such culprits were being brought to book, Nkomo said he was still attending a funeral while Didymus Mutasa, the Minister of Anti Corruption and Anti Monopolies was said to be attending a meeting.

But in an apparent reflection that those who were defying orders to heed the one-man-one-farm rule are considered "untouchables", the police and farmers’ organisations refused to comment on the issue of individuals who are clinging to vast tracts of land in violation of the law.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena, who first confirmed Mbedzi’s arrest on the corruption allegations to the press, refused to comment when asked if law enforcement agents were carrying out any investigations on corrupt activities in the land reform programme.

The president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union Davidson Mugabe also refused to say anything when asked how his organization viewed the slow pace at exposing those that had taken more land to the detriment of intended beneficiaries.

"We do not get involved in land, we know our boundaries," said Mugabe.

The land redistribution process has been plagued by allegations of corrupt activities that threaten government’s plans for optimum land use in the country.

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