THE fast-track land reform programme began in the year 2000, allocating over 4 500 farms to new farmers on more than 7,6 million hectares.
The exercise has seen thousands of Zimbabweans being resettled following years of colonial injustice.
It is an ongoing process, where more than 240 000 people are still on the waiting list for land allocation.
Many resettled farmers have proved their mettle by being highly productive, showing the entire world that Zimbabwe is capable of reclaiming the southern Africa bread-basket status.
Not everyone has excelled in agriculture, as some so-called farmers have held on to large tracts of land without any sensible production taking place, rendering their farms underutilised.
Such people are retrogressive and one wonders why a whole 1 000-hactare farm can lie idle for many years yet the country has more than 240 000 applicants for land still on the waiting list.
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Corruption has been reported in many sectors of the economy in the country and it is estimated that about US$2 billion is lost to the vice in Zimbabwe on a yearly basis.
The elephantine figure is nauseating considering the size of our economy.
Many people have complained about the rot in the Lands ministry, with some officials being implicated in illegal allocation of land while others are exercising cronyism, favouritism or nepotism when allocating land.
You hear the whole Lands ministry claiming that land is no longer available for allocation yet the next day, a friend of some official is allocated fresh land next to you.
This is sad as capable people are disadvantaged merely because of corrupt activities on the part of some officials in the ministry.
There are many officials who have been involved in shady land deals in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West provinces, but they are still roaming the streets, a sign that there is a well-oiled syndicate that is cashing in on land allocation.
One senior lands official who caused havoc in Mashonaland West has now been transferred to the Lands ministry headquarters in Harare, possibly in a bid to cover up for his shenanigans.
Seke, Chegutu, Kadoma and Chinhoyi have seen a lot of complaints raised against land officials, alas, no concrete action is taken against the officials that are destroying the reputation of the Lands ministry.
In 2021, medical practitioners applied for land via the Office of the President and His Excellency did not take 24 hours to respond positively.
Pieces of vacant land were identified, some in Seke, Mashonaland East.
Inspections were done, recommendations were made to re-plan some of the identified farms so that doctors could get 10 hectares each.
It is now three years and no movement has occurred.
The most nauseating thing is that new farmers have been settled at one of the farms, despite the subdivision being earmarked for medical practitioners.
What is all this and why are the Lands officials behaving that way?
I understand that the Zanu PF politburo wields more power and authority over government and it is my appeal to the secretary for lands to rein in ministry officials that are putting the name of the entire ministry into disrepute.
If the President did not know what is happening on the ground, then it is time the politburo secretary, through his directors, informs the highest office in the country.
The ruling party should know there are many detractors in government departments who are bent on derailing national progress.
Heads should roll in the Lands ministry if sanity is to be restored.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate all cases of corruption involving land allocation.
Corruption is sabotaging the country.