CHINA GETTING LAND IN ZIMBABWE

ZAPU calls on Mugabe to stop parceling land to Chinese
By Walter Sebele

Published: November 5, 2012

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(Gwanda)As it kick started its referendum “Vote Yes” campaign in Gwanda at the weekend, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) party has called on government to stop parceling land to Chinese people, as it asked as well for Calf Loans for cattle rearing areas such as Gwanda..

Addressing at rally meant gunner up backing for the forthcoming referendum at Imbizo Community Centre in Gwanda, ZAPU Vice President Emelia Mukaratirwa, appealed for support from the Imbizo Community saying the new draft constitution was a better devil than the current Lancaster House charter.

“In my view it is but wise to “vote yes” in the coming referendum as we all know that the devil we know is better than the one that we do not know and will help us map a way forward. “A “No vote” is likely to derail our efforts of addressing the bread and butter issues that are affecting us as a people of Zimbabwe,” said Mukaratirwa.

ZAPU and all MDC formations have joined hands with other civic organizations like Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) who have endorsed the draft constitution as they are all demanding a referendum and new constitution.
She said as the country spent valuable time arguing about what should be included in the new constitution, certain sectors where really benefiting from that controversy as they used the time to carry out their illegal deals.

“As we are busy deliberating on the draft constitution, a lot of our raw minerals are busy being illegally channeled outside the country without what I refer to as value addition. So many a times are these bogus Chinese agents looting our resources and we as people of Zimbabwe are left with nothing to show for ourselves,” she added.

However speaking in separate interviews Gwanda residents have called upon the government to consider extending its hand to the dry community of Gwanda.

Emilia Mukaratirwa
They said since the government was quick to chip in and assist the Mashonaland community in times of need, it was but just for cattle rearing areas to be considered as well in these loan schemes.

“It is not fair that we always hear of the grain loan scheme to the people of Mashonaland yet there has been nothing done to improve our welfare as a people of Gwanda. What the government should be doing was to offer us what we call “Calf loan Schemes” since cattle rearing is the closest we get to agriculture,” said Nixon Mlilo, a villager at Imbizo.

Lungile Mathe who is also a villager in Gwanda cried of being treated as second class citizens in Zimbabwe as they have never been approached on any issue concerning their welfare or at least have measures in place to ensure that the drought situation is dealt with.

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