The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
FARMERS in Masvingo who recently received offer letters to occupy 4 000-hectare sugarcane farms under Tongaat Hullet in Chiredzi got a reprieve when Government declared their occupation legal saying they are free to start work on the allocated land without any problem.
Addressing Zanu-PF Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting at the Show Grounds in Masvingo last week, Lands and Resettlement Deputy Minister Berita Chikwama said people who received offer letters on any piece of land have adequate entitlements over it.
She said the offer letter gives the owner the right to farm without any problem thus no one should listen to unfounded claims in the contrary. About 140 people, mostly from Masvingo early this year received offer letters to occupy land in the lowveld but there was confusion over the issue as some members expressed concern over the welfare of about 2 500 Tongaat Hullet workers presently working in the farms. The fear is that the new farmers may fail to employ all the workers.
However, the majority of beneficiaries had already occupied the farms despite resistance from some members in Zanu-PF including Zimbabwe Sugarcane Milling Workers\ Union(ZSMIWU) members.
“People who have benefited from the 4 000-hectare sugarcane land in Chiredzi and are holding offer letters are free to start work. They should be allowed to occupy their sugarcane farms peacefully,” said Deputy Minister Chikwama.
She condemned demonstrations which of late have rocked the sugarcane estates saying the issue of land squarely lies with the relevant ministry with the backing of President Mugabe.
@walterbmswazie2
