He said Rodney Mashingaidze, a district officer in the President's Office, must be allocated land elsewhere. Traditional leaders and people in the area have mounted a spirited campaign against the occupation of the farm, owned by the Cunningham family, which houses Shalom Campsite and Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre. They welcomed Mphoko’s action, declaring him a "good leader who hears the cries of the people".
Three traditional chiefs – Nyangazonke, Masuku and Mathema – joined a determined lobby of villagers who campaigned against the takeover.
They said the farm was benefiting at least 800 families, with Peter Cunningham being credited for assisting locals with various projects, including chicken breeding and teaching them modern farming methods.
Mphoko told the Chronicle after the meeting: "If the general community is benefiting from the project then they're the responsibility of the government and should continue with their projects as compared to Ndlovu or Khumalo taking over.”
"Mashingaidze is a Zimbabwean who is entitled to a farm like anybody else. The ministry concerned will find a farm for him which is straightforward because we can't take a project which benefits the community and give it to an individual; it doesn't work that way.”
Meanwhile, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa last week barred Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi from taking over part of Barquest Farm owned by Hellen Mitchell in Masvingo Province, which is home to the province's largest hatchery project that produces 100 000 day-old chicks per week.
Post published in: News