Zanu PF warns illegal settlers

Politics
MATABELELAND South Zanu PF chairperson Andrew Langa has warned villagers in Insiza North constituency against bringing illegal settlers in the area saying perpetrators would be arrested.

MATABELELAND South Zanu PF chairperson Andrew Langa has warned villagers in Insiza North constituency against bringing illegal settlers in the area saying perpetrators would be arrested.

NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER

Speaking at a field day at Shem Mathe’s homestead at Ensango village in Shangani on Friday, Langa said it was illegal to settle people without the government’s authority.

“You were resettled by the government, but I know there are people who want to be the government and settle people in the villagers’ grazing pastures,” he said.

“If they are here, take them as a village to the police because what they are doing is illegal.

“The land is not elastic, it cannot stretch and worse they bring people from outside the area; where are your children going to live?”

Langa, who is also Sport and Culture minister, warned those behind the illegal settlement that they face prosecution.

He said those who did not respond to the initial resettlement exercise should wait until the government decided to take more farms.

He urged those who received land to fully utilise the resource.

“This is not an area to come and die at,” he said.

“You should till the land and contribute to your development and that of the country.

“Some upon receiving land, identify a tree and say that is where we will set up a grave site, No, you should till the land.”

He bemoaned the decline in the number of cattle in the province that has fallen to 527 000 saying Matabeleland South was once the biggest producer of beef in the country.

Meanwhile, the government would no longer be giving free inputs.

“Last year was the last that government was giving out free inputs. We realised that the country had good rains and a bumper harvest is expected almost in every part of the country,” he said.

“I do not believe the government will be giving seed and fertiliser unless maybe with the benevolence of President Robert Mugabe if he decided to give the inputs.”

The minister urged villagers to sell part of their harvest and buy inputs for the next season.