260k on land waiting list: Cabinet

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An estimated 260 000 people are on the waiting list for land with 10 000 in the diaspora, government said yesterday as it announced plans to speed up the allocation of land to the landless.

Addressing journalists at a post-Cabinet briefing, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said a special purpose vehicle, whose mechanisms are yet to be finalised, was created to administer the distribution of land..

She said land was now scarce with demand far outstripping supply, hence the creation of the special purpose vehicle schemes.

“In view of the fact that there are 260 000 people on the waiting list for land, with an estimated 10 000 in the diaspora having indicated an interest to access land, Cabinet adopted the concept of a special purpose vehicle for accelerating the allocation of land to Zimbabweans,” Mutsvangwa said.

Responding to NewsDay’s questions on bankability and land tenure, Mutsvangwa said: “As government we have the 99-year lease and that is the thinking. They are bankable and they stand. Nothing has changed. We know land is a finite resource.”

With regards the 2022/23 agricultural farming season, Mutsvangwa said there was an increase in the number of farmers participating in the Pfumudza/Intwasa programme compared to the same period last year.

“A total of 2 888 163 Pfumvudza/Intwasa farmers have been trained to date compared to 2 294 471 at the same time in the previous season. Similarly, 5 121 509 plots have been prepared compared to 2 859 714 plots at the same time the previous season,” she said.

“Cabinet advises the nation that the country continues to be in the normal to above normal rainfall category, despite the reduced rainfall activity experienced during the past week. Most areas across the country have received rainfall which is expected at this time of the year.”

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had approved a partnership between the City of Bulawayo and WilliamsEngineering for the establishment of a 50 megawatt solar farm at Ncema Waterworks.

“This will address power challenges at Bulawayo water pumping station and will power to the city’s critical installations,” she said.

The Bulawayo City Council has been forced to suspend its 72-hour water-shedding regime due torolling power cuts affecting pumping capacity at water treatment plants.