Land reform programme - Skewed development

Housing and accommodation problems in our society should be dealt with – stands continue to be scarce in Bulawayo and all around other cities in Zimbabwe. Surprisingly, we have a “few” individuals in this same society with at least 4 houses who continue to buy stands, build houses and buy houses at the expense of the majority with none at all. Is it because stands are expensive, not available at all or it is rather one of those disparities that have since been associated with distribution of resources from the colonial era, post colonial to present day Zimbabwe. I suppose, looting of resources, socio -economic and political inequalities are ideals of what is known as modern day democracy. As such political and economic rights of individuals are neither recognised nor respected.

Recently, a newly resettled farmer in Gweru has built a house which she has offered to President Mugabe in appreciation of the land reform programme that benefited thousands of previously marginalised indigenous Zimbabweans.

According to Herald online,  Mrs Smelly Dube built the house and a water booster station in Woodlands Park through her company, River Valley Properties (RVP) Private Limited.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo commissioned the house and the water booster station on behalf of President Mugabe yesterday.

Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo commissions a house donated to President Mugabe by River Valley Properties chairman Mncedisi Dube and his wife Smelly, who is the company’s chief executive (left), while Midlands Governor Jason Machaya and projects manager Matilda Manhambo look on in Woodland Park, Gweru, yesterday.

The house is worth more than US$50 000 and the booster pump cost more than US$500 000 and will supply water to more than 4 300 households in Hertfordshire Phase 1 and 2.
More than 1 000 medium and high density residential stands were also handed over to civil servants in the city by the company which would avail building material on monthly basis payment.
Mrs Dube said she was motivated by what President Mugabe did for the people in building the house.
“I grew up admiring the works of the President and when I got land through the land reform programme I believed I would achieve the goal of giving back to the community on behalf of our revolutionary leader,” she said.
“The President will use the house in whichever way he chooses.”
Minister Chombo thanked Mrs Dube for constructing the house for the President and availing residential stands to ordinary people, including civil servants.
“She saw it befitting to give the house to President Mugabe and affordable residential stands to civil servants as an appreciation of the land reform programme,” he said.