Story by Providence Maraneli
THE government is set to enhance the 3-tier resettlement model in Matabeleland South, aiming to boost livestock production and drive the province towards Vision 2030.
With the Land Reform Programme irreversible, the Second Republic continues realigning land ownership policies, ensuring equitable access and sustainable use.
A key initiative includes strengthening and capacitating the 19,000-hectare Wanezi block farm, allocated to the people of Insiza as an additional grazing area for livestock development.
“We were allocated this farm in the 90s as reserve grazing because we are a livestock district. We want to be helped with fencing and also being able to borrow money from the bank as a community,” 3-tier system beneficiary, Mr Collen Siziba said.
“This 3-tier Wanezi block was allocated specifically for grazing and no one is allowed to settle there. The 19 000 hectares Wanezi block serves four wards,” Provincial Lands Officer, Alec Chilonga said.
The local leadership is convinced the realignment and strengthening of the 3 tier model has the potential to boost livestock production in the district.
“This is Vision 2030 in-making as enunciated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. We all need to be united to achieve this vision,” Insiza South Legislator, Honourable Spare Sithole said.
“We have managed to preserve this farm as a community and we are happy that the government has finally taken steps towards reviving the model so that as a community we realize the benefits. We were scared that someone would come and take our land because we do not have tittle deeds,” Chief Maduna said.
Speaking after touring the Wanezi block this Friday the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka reiterated the government’s stance that the Land Reform Programme is irreversible.
“This 3-tier model in Wanezi will be the first that we are going to develop through establishing ward drought mitigation centers. There is a need for secure tenure over this 3-tier farm. The President has said anyone who has land should receive title deeds. We are here to develop the 3-tier programme not to destroy it. I want to thank this community for its efforts and arrangements to sustain the model,” Dr Masuka said.
The 3-tier is a resettlement model where land is separately allocated for grazing, homesteads and cropping.
The government is on a drive to ensure there is secure tenure for land acquired through the Land Reform Programme through issuing title deeds, with President Mnangagwa having launched the Land Tenure Implementation system in December last year.
Over 2 500 land title deeds are expected to have been issued by the end of this month.
