MDC vindicated over land issue

By Obert Gutu

The MDC has always advocated for responsible land and agriculture management and a comprehensive agrarian reform programme as means to ensure food security for all the people of Zimbabwe regardless of race, colour or creed.

Dating back from the year 2000, the MDC advocated for a sustainable and productive land reform programme that will particularly benefit historically disadvantaged people. The MDC has been vindicated, once again, by the latest climb down on the land policy by the Zanu PF government.

The chaotic land reform exercise which was accompanied by unprecedented and wanton violence, haphazard distribution of land on partisan basis, and the decimation of the commercial agricultural sector by the Zanu PF regime has brought about untold damage and suffering to the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

The MDC views the Zanu PF decision to allow for contract farming and joint farming ventures as a very insincere and ill-timed gesture particularly as it comes a little too late when the entire Zimbabwean population has suffered the consequences of the demise of the agricultural sector. More than 90% of Zimbabweans are wallowing in poverty as a direct consequence of the Zanu PF regime’s ill-conceived, chaotic and violently executed so called land reform programme.

The manufacturing and Industrial sectors have fallen on hard times due to the failure by the Zanu PF regime to successfully execute a sustainable and holistic land redistribution exercise.

Whilst the MDC has always called for the sustainable and equitable redistribution of land to all deserving Zimbabweans and as a measure of uplifting the living standards of the country’s citizens, the Zanu PF regime hijacked the programme and completely failed to effect a viable land reform exercise thus leading to the total collapse of the commercial agricultural sector.

As a direct result of the Zanu PF regime’s ineptitude and gross incompetence, Zimbabwe has been reduced from being the bread basket of Africa, to being a basket case.

The MDC has always advocated for a land reform exercise that would guarantee the upliftment of the people of Zimbabwe’s living standards, regardless of race, colour or creed.

The MDC maintains that the land reform exercise should ensure that there is sustainable food production and that people are empowered to develop and grow their farming skills in order to positively impact their communities.

The Zanu PF regime is belatedly attempting to undertake a damage control exercise in order to reverse the devastating consequences of its violent and unsustainable so called land reform programme.

Unfortunately, the violent so called land reform exercise that was carried out by the Zanu PF regime over the last 15 years has pauperized the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

The MDC emphasizes the need for the adoption of policies that will increase productivity across all sectors and in the process restoring Zimbabwe to its bread basket status.

MDC: Equal opportunities for all.

MDC-T National Spokesperson, Obert Chaurura Gutu