Maravi

(HERALD) President decries agric sabotage

President decries agric sabotage
From Sydney Kawadza in MUTASA

President Mugabe has said some elements in Government may have intentionally or unintentionally hampered Govern-ment efforts to provide farmers with inputs ahead of the current summer cropping season.

Addressing farmers at Grange Farm in Mutasa District, Manicaland, yesterday, President Mugabe said farmers had unfortunately failed to holistically benefit from the Government’s well-intentioned programmes for the 2009/2010 season.

He, however, said Government would continue assisting resettled and communal farmers despite the shortcomings. The President spoke as he toured resettlement areas in the district.

"Tanga takaronga seHurumende zvirongwa zvemwaka uno kuti varimi vawane mbeu, mafetiraiza nezvekurimisa.

"But after going around and getting to understand that the tractors we saw arrived yesterday; it means that we have failed to implement the programmes.

"Panoratidza kuti panova nekunyeperana kana kuti vanhu vatakapa basa havana chavanoziva nezvebasa racho kana kuti havasikuda kuita basa racho," he said.

"Even if we sent tractors to help the farmers now, it’s a bit late. When would we get the crops?

"Asi ticharamba tichibatsira varimi kuti mwaka wavo uenderere mberi," he said

President Mugabe said regardless of the challenges, the season was progressing well.

"There are issues that we agreed to as a Government and I wanted to see what is happening on the ground.

"We also want to understand the challenges that farmers, especially resettled and communal farmers, are facing in their farming activities," he said.

He reiterated that Zimbabwe would never be controlled by the erstwhile coloni-ser again.

"In Manicaland Province, a lot of your sons and daughters sacrificed their lives when they crossed the border into Mozambique to fight for this land, this country.

"We do not want people to forget that many of them died during the struggle.

"Without the struggle, without the war, they would never have been land for the people. We had to fight for this land.

"Now we have got the land, that is when some of us start going astray. The province performed badly during last year’s elections.

"Nekuda kwenzara here iwe uine munda? Mosarudza vanhu vasingade zveChimurenga? Maita sei? Maita sei? Maita sei?

"Chii change chapinda pakati pedu? We are in the inclusive Government because of last year’s election results."

President Mugabe said the inclusive Government had its challenges, but would continue going forward in serving Zimbabweans.

"We are, however, hopeful that people have realised the mistakes they made last year and would not want to do it again.

"Kana munhu akaita nzara yakadii, say no! Unoti ndiurayeyi zvangu asi ivhu rangu handidi naro.

"Ndosaka tichiramba tichirwisa kuti nyika yedu isaende. Ini kana ndikatyityidzirwa zvakadii handitengese nyika iyi. I would rather die than give away the land.

"Pane vamwe vedu vakaita savana Chitepo akafira nyika ino saka ticharamba tichidzivirira nyika ino. Kudududza kwete, hatidududze aiwa!"

He said Zanu-PF signed the Global Political Agreement on the understanding that the land question was settled and would never be reversed.

President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to be wary of people who came to them with gifts and money — especially through non-governmental organisations — while attempting to reverse the gains of the liber-

ation struggle.

"You can accept what they give, but on your conditions. But if they impose anything on you, tell them to go away because there are others who would want to work with you," he said.

The area he toured yesterday has 89 A1 farmers who received tillage services for three hectares each and are targeting to put about 180ha under maize and other crops such as cotton and sunflower.

President Mugabe donated fertilizers and seed to 500 A1 farmers in the area.

The households each received one 50kg bag of compound D fertilizer, two 50kg bags of either AN or urea fertilizer and 20 kg of maize seed.

The President also donated over 200 computers and accessories to 20 schools in the province.

Manicaland Governor and Resident Minister Christopher Mushohwe; Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Samuel Undenge, Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Basil Nyabadza and senior Government officials accompanied the President on the tour.

Labels: MUGABE, SABOTAGE, TENDAI BITI

posted by MrK @ 6:50 PM