The miister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri has dismissed as fase reports which say the government’s farm downsizing campaign is discriminating against white farmers.
He speaks after some independent local publications had reported on 26 June that the government had targeted Mr Drummond and Mr Davenport, white farmers Mashonaland West Province, in in fresh land seizures.
Speaking at a media briefing this Thursday, Shiri dismissed the reports as malicious. He added:
Firstly, both farmers Mr Drummond and Mr Davenport are beneficiaries of the Land Reform Program. Both farmers are domiciled in area, in Mashonaland West Province where the maximum farm size is 500ha by virtue of this area falling under natural ecological region II.
The minister added that the farmers’ farms were in excess of 2000 hectares contrary to the required measurements.
He added that the implementation process is being done “religiously without any bias, discrimination, nepotism and favouritism.”
The government conducted a land audit which exposed serious irregularities. This comes when the country is facing starvation due to a myriad of factors including poor rains and poor agricuture policies over the past two decades.
More: ZBC News