Malunga Farm Grab Unacceptable - Mutsvangwa
War veterans leader and former President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor, Christopher Mutsvangwa, has described attempts to grab Esidakeni Farm in Matabeleland North as unacceptable.
Mutsvangwa said this in an interview on the Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) State of the Nation programme on Wednesday.
He was part of a panel that included Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) director Pedzisai Ruhanya and Bishop Anselm Magaya.
They were discussing the topic, “Peace and Social Cohesion Dialogue Series Celebrating Heroes Day – a Nation Building Process”.
The farm in question is co-owned by Siphosami Malunga, director of Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), businessman Charles Moyo and scientist at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Zephania Dlamini.
Senior government officials and central intelligence organisation officials are trying to wrestle the land from the three businessmen.
Ruhanya queried why the government was going after privately owned land. He said:
… I was reading a story of one Siphosami Malunga. His father is a veteran of the struggle, he lies at the Heroes Acre.
This guy, from the story I read in court papers, got a piece of land. He did not even use the idea that his father Malunga is a national hero. He bought it using his own money.
But I was reading a story where that land he bought using his own money despite the fact that his father is a veteran of the struggle and a hero, the land has been invaded.
So good things are soiled by that kind of partisanship.
In response, Mutsvangwa said he also had been following the Esidakeni Farm case. He said:
I share completely the sentiments which he has expressed in every aspect. He speaks of the Malunga case, I followed it. Which is for me it is unacceptable.
The three businessmen have since approached the High Court seeking an order to stop the land grab.
Last week, Dlamini was barred from entering the farm by people who claimed they had been given instructions by some senior government officials not to allow them access to the farm.
