Lands Minister, Anxious Masuka, Distances Self From Malunga Farm Grab
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Anxious Masuka has distanced himself from the seizure of a farm belonging to prominent human rights lawyer Siphosami Malunga and his business partners.
The NewsHawks established that Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) co-deputy director-general Gatsha Mazithulela, ZANU PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister of state Richard Moyo are behind the move to seize the property.
Moyo is said to be the one spearheading the seizure and claims the farm owners have no proof of ownership.
He told the publication that there is no going back on the farm confiscation insisting that it belongs to the government.
Siphosami, the executive director of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa and son of the late nationalist Sydney Malunga, co-owns Kershelmar Farms (Pvt) Ltd with businessman Charles Moyo and Zephaniah Dhlamini, a scientist working at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The company, which they bought, owns the farm. The farm is known as Esidakeni, measuring 553 hectares and situated in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North province.
Responding to enquiries from The NewsHawks on Friday, Masuka said he was not the initiator and mover of the land grab. He said: “I am not aware of any farm seizure of Malunga’s farm.”
Meanwhile, Lands and Agriculture ministry spokesperson Barbara Machekano said the Matabeleland North leadership led by Richard Moyo is responsible for the farm grab. She said:
Moyo is the one responsible for that province. At head office level, Masuka is just there to sign offer letters; because of devolution, provincial ministers are the ones responsible for the issuance of offer letters, and they are the best to comment on any land offer issues in their respective provinces.
