Story by Gay Matambo
Young Pan-Africanists from across the region have hailed the Land Tenure Implementation Programme, which was rolled out by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year as part of initiatives to spur economic growth and enhance productivity.
This came out during a tour of sugarcane farms in Chiredzi by President of the Raise The Voice Africa, Emmanuel Akot and other young Pan-Africanists from across the region.
Mr Elisha Tamirepi, a sugarcane out grower in Chiredzi, who is also a beneficiary of the land reform programme, says the Land Tenure Implementation Programme is set to unlock value for farmers who were struggling to access funding from financial institutions to improve their operations.
“We are happy with this visit from Pan Africanists from several countries because the visit was a platform for us farmers in Zimbabwe to show the benefits of the land reform programme. This is a testimony which I think when they go back they will see that Zimbabwe has fully implemented the land reform programme and the farmers are benefitting and the land tenure implementation programme is also a step in the right direction towards full utilisation of the land as we are now to access funding,” he said.
Speaking after a tour of sugarcane farms and the Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe Triangle mill, President of Raise the Voice Africa and Ugandan Pan-Africanist, Mr Emmanuel Akot stressed the importance of empowering Africans through land.
“This is one of the sugarcane farms that I have visited in Zimbabwe and the natives are benefitting so much better than the colonial period, now the land reforms are helping the farmers gain a lot making them self-sustainable. I was told by my friend Odeke Moses in Uganda that the one who feeds you controls you so now the farmers are feeding themselves and no-one will control them. This is not colonial period so the farmers are benefitting so much.”
Student Representative Council President at the University of Botswana, Mr Topo Kwena said the visit was a platform for the young Pan-Africanists and sugarcane out-growers to exchange notes on how to develop African countries through agriculture.
He said, “This is an eye opener for me and my colleagues. The perception we had about not only this country but the people is very different from the experience and what we actually found. We found a nation that not only empowers its people, but a nation that has a vision. I want to say to farmers today this is inspiring and we are taking a lot back home. To you young generation I hope you are learning.”
The visit by the Pan-Africanists not only puts Zimbabwe on the map as a hospitable destination but also shows how Zimbabwe has fully empowered its people through the land reform programme.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Tongai Mnangagwa stated, “Our country has gone full circle on the land reform programme. Why the white farmers could borrow from the bank or produce is because they had tittle they are not super humans but now we got tittle. We have achieved what every other nation that was colonised before has failed to do as Zimbabwe we are the pacesetters.”
Africa Youth Congress Chairperson Honourable Taurai Kandishaya said the reality of Zimbabwe is seen through developments on the ground.
“There is a picture that is painted out there and it’s a deliberate move by those that occupied our land previously. We decided to invite other Africans to see what we are doing. As opposed to the fact that blacks are not good farmers they are seeing that indeed we are good farmers and there is peace in Zimbabwe. So we just want to show them that the Zimbabwe on social media is not the Zimbabwe in reality.”
The young Pan-Africanists also visited the Great Zimbabwe monuments and the Tugwi Mukosi Dam during their tour of Masvingo province.
