Zanu PF wants land ‘token of appreciation’

Politics
A TOP Zanu PF Matabeleland North official has proposed that beneficiaries of the land reform programme pay a token of appreciation to the party for their pieces of land.

A TOP Zanu PF Matabeleland North official has proposed that beneficiaries of the land reform programme pay a token of appreciation to the party for their pieces of land. NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER

Clifford Sibanda, the provincial secretary for administration told the Zanu PF provincial co-ordinating committee meeting held in Lupane at the weekend that politburo members should push for the implementation of the proposals.

“I have a suggestion. Why don’t we engage beneficiaries of the land reform to pay at least a token of appreciation?” he said.

“Everyone knows that they got the land through the resolute efforts of Zanu PF. The decision to redistribute land to the masses resulted in the denigration of our country and even personal sanctions against our President Robert Mugabe. He can’t travel around freely because of his decision to empower the people.”

Sibanda said he thought farmers would come forward after the “successful” land distribution and give Zanu PF a token of appreciation.

He said strategies were needed for “friendly engagement” of the farmers so they give the party something in appreciation of getting land.

“We should come together and find ways of making people pay a token of appreciation,” Sibanda said.

“We can’t be broke as a party when we have a national asset that is land.

“Besides approaching companies, we should approach the farmers because they are enjoying. Some of them have lots of cattle. Why can’t they give us at least one cow each? We have to be vibrant as a party because administration is hard. We only have one administrative district in the province which is in Nkayi.” The Bubi legislator said if his proposal was adopted, the party would be vibrant.

Sibanda added: “If a person after a good harvest goes to church to pay a tithe thanking God for his blessings, where are blessings from Zanu PF going to? He said the few farmers he had engaged had reacted positively.