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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THERE are only five chiefs who got land for farming under the government’s land reform programme in Masvingo province, a senior official has said. Addressing traditional chiefs during Traditional Leaders Day commemorations at 4 Brigade headquarters in Masvingo on Thursday, the chief provincial lands officer, Fortune Chimbishi, said his committee was working tirelessly to accommodate more chiefs in the popular government programme.

Masvingo has 45 chiefs.

“We have a few chiefs who have benefitted from the land reform exercise. Of these, three are in Chiredzi and two are in Mwenezi. Modalities are being worked out for others to benefit. Those three in Chiredzi were among 143 people shortlisted for farm allocation. While I understand that all chiefs should benefit, three quarters of the chiefs in here are yet to benefit,” said Chimbishi.

He said every Zimbabwean who has attained the age of 21 is entitled to land as enshrined in the constitution and according to the land policy, chiefs should have their specific quota of land for resettlement.

“We have specific percentages of land given to senior civil servants, war veterans and chiefs. Everyone above the age of 21 is entitled to land, according to our constitution. However, in Masvingo province, it seems there are few chiefs who have benefitted compared to other areas. There are only four districts namely; Chiredzi, Gutu, Mwenezi and Masvingo that have farms but Chivi, Zaka and Bikita have no farms,” he said.

Chimbishi said those from districts which do not have farms were entitled to land just like their colleagues elsewhere.

“There is no discrimination and modalities are being worked out for every chief to benefit provided the farms are available. Tongaat Hullet has 35,000 hectares under sugarcane while 69,000 hectares is under ranching and wildlife. From their total land they have offered 4,000 hectares to be given to chiefs and Chief Sengwe, Chief Gudo and Tshovani are set to benefit,” he said.

In response, Chief Nhema from Zaka district expressed concern over what he described as selective treatment when it comes to allocation of farms to traditional leaders.

“We are shortchanged as chiefs. We should all benefit, give us farms. This tendency of selective allocation of land creates disunity among chiefs. We have to be treated in the same manner. It is appalling to learn that out of 45 chiefs, only five chiefs have benefitted from the land reform. That is not fair; we want our 60 percent share as was originally promised. As it is we are not considered by the lands committee yet we are the custodians of land,” he said.

Chief Gutu said of the 10 chiefs in Gutu district, none has benefitted from the land allocations to date.He said the lands committees were not inviting chiefs to their meetings despite some of the traditional leaders being members of the committees.

“I understand we have five chiefs from the chiefs’ council who are supposed to attend these meetings. We are not happy at all because we are hardly invited to these meetings and I would want to think this is deliberate,” said Chief Gutu.

Chief Neshuro from Mwenezi said while they applauded government for the allocation of land to chiefs in the district, it should be noted that their area was dry and meant for ranching.

“While it is true that we were given offer letters for land, the farms we were given are for ranching because there is dry land in our districts. We also want sugarcane farms like others. We should be provided farms with sugarcane not virgin land where it will require millions of dollars to prepare,” said Chief Neshuro.