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By Elvis Dumba
Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Marian Chombo has warned youths from land invasions which have witnessed an increase in Zvimba District and some parts of Mashonaland West Province.
Minister Chombo was speaking to Zvimba North ZANU PF leadership during a two-day constituency tour.
Minister Chombo said some unscrupulous people were cashing in on desperate land seekers in places such as Harare and youths in the district were being used in invading people’s farms.
“Please let us warn our youths to desist from the land invasions going in the district as land allocation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Lands and to those who would defy the warning please don’t come to me when you get arrested as this is illegal,” she said.
Minister Chombo urged those who want to acquire land to follow the laid down procedure for land application.
“We are aware there are people including some war veterans swindling people money with promises that they will get land. If you really want land, follow the procedure and don’t try the shortcuts as the law will take its course,” she said.
Speaking on the same occasion, Bywell Mbiri Zvimba District Lands Committee Vice-Chairperson and ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee Chairperson said those in need of land were encouraged to apply using the official channels.
“Don’t be duped by those who claim they can facilitate land allocation for you as we don’t tolerate any kind of corruption. Don’t pay anyone who claims that they will help you with the application process. You can freely do it yourself,” he said.
There has been a rise in incidents of land invasions in the district with a bogus group calling itself ZANU PF Cyber misleading some party youths in invading farms claiming they had been given the green light by President Emerson Mnangagwa
Meanwhile, Minister Chombo thanked farmers who managed to make grain deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board and repaid loans secured through the command agriculture scheme.