JOHANNESBURG - The commercial farmers who lost their land at the height of the countrys violent land grab may be allowed to return to the country under the new democratic constitution being crafted. This was revealed in Braafontein, Johannesburg on Friday when Zimbabwe's Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) reached out to millions of its exiled citizens seeking views onSeveral Diaspora group representatives drawn from South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the US have submitted that all productive white farmers who lost their land should have it back.
Among other key issues raised included that of only two terms for the president, re-allocation of land to the white farmers unfairly removed by Zanu (PF), allowing Zimbabweans outside the country to vote as well as revisiting gay and lesbians rights.
The parliamentary committee is headed by co-chairmen Paul Mangwana of Zanu (PF) and Douglas Mwonzora of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
“Our mission here is to gather data, upload it and then debate. But we have noted that the land issue is key everywhere we go,” said Mwonzora.
Mangwana also confirmed that the land issue was topical saying his committee would correctly take the submissions made to ensure a people-driven constitution without bias or favour of colour, race or creed.
Zimbabwe’s largest human rights groups, the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) recommended an independent land audit to seriously consider the injustices caused at the height of land invasions from 2000 -2008.
“Those who are productive (white farmers) should be left alone on their land to feed the nation while the independent land audit would ensure fair redistribution of land to both black and white,” said Shumba, executive director of ZEF.
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