…reaffirm support for Zanu PF
Upenyu Chaota
04 Feb 2017 – MASVINGO – War veterans’ children coalescing under the banner of the Children of National Liberation War Veterans Association (CNLWVA) have vowed to storm Chiredzi West legislator Darlington Chiwa’s sugarcane farm, accusing him of blocking their bid to acquire farms in the Lowveld so that they can empower themselves.
Chiwa is said to be on the forefront of opposition to the takeover of land belonging to sugarcane giant, Tongaat Hullet.
The lobby group say they have no choice but to go and occupy Chiwa’s farm whom they accuse of protecting Tongaat Hullet for personal gain.
Chiwa has however publicly stated that his opposition to compulsory acquisition of Tongaat Hullet land stems from concerns over job losses and the shoddy manner by which the process was being carried out.
The legislator’s backers also accuse Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Shuvai Mahofa, of trying to seize the land and enrich her cronies and supporters at the expense of public good.
CNWVLA national secretary for external affairs, Memory Kamoto said they have gathered application letters for children of war veterans and called Chiwa for a meeting but he refused.
“We had our application letters for land in Chiredzi. As children of war veterans, we believe we have to empower ourselves with the resources we have.
“We followed the proper procedure but Chiwa is fighting hard to make sure that the letters are turned down. We do not know why he is doing that but he has left us with no choice so we are going to storm and take his farm,” fumed Kamoto.
She said they are not asking for large tracts of land but only a small piece each so that they can also make a living.
“We are going to write a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture to register our displeasure with all this,” said Kamoto.
She said the children of war veterans are fully behind the revolutionary Zanu PF party and will be launching a campaign in all provinces mobilising people to vote for the ruling party.news