ZANU PF has urged the government to immediately return the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army's (Zipra) Nitram properties that were seized at the height of the 1980s civil unrest in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
The remarks were made by Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu during victory celebrations for the newly-elected leader of the Zimbabwe National War Veteran Association Cephas Ncube who said the delays in returning the properties were uncalled for.
Zipra veterans of the country’s 1970s war for independence bought several properties across the country with contributions from their demobilisation pay-outs.
Mpofu said a number of committees were formed to work on the return of the properties to no avail.
“I do not see why this issue should take such a long time when properties are known, the title deeds are there if one wants to establish the authenticity of who owns it. It seems people are spending time investigating things that are already documented.
"If they need assistance they should come to us. There are two types of properties that belong to the war veterans, there are properties that belong to the Zapu party,” he said.
Mpofu said those for the Zapu party had been merged with Zanu PF such as the Magnet House, adding that separation was so simple.
“We can assist in resolving the issue because a lot of war veterans are dying because of old age so we are saying let’s speed up the process and we deal with that matter once and for all,” he said.
- Esidakeni Farm wrangle rages on in court
- Mpofu takes bootlicking to another level over re-appointment
- Property tycoon opens up on stillborn Airport Road project
- From Zanu PF’s genius solutions to the gospel according to Mnangagwa
Keep Reading
Mpofu said there were those bent on dividing the party through their antics on social media, adding that they should abandon their misguided efforts and toe the party line.
“They have been making efforts to hijack the association so as to serve their anti party agenda. I would like to urge the association to maintain close relations with the ruling party Zanu PF party. I would also like to congratulate all the members of the newly-elected executive of the association,” he said.
Zipra deputy spokesperson Joakim Moyo said those who would share the properties would be committing a crime.
“This is a big issue you cannot separate it from the Gukurahundi issue because this happened at the same time. All properties belong to Zapu because the Zipra cadres contributed funds towards the purchase of the properties while they were in the assembly points. The properties bear the name of Nkomo and a few individuals, the party Zapu is working on,” Moyo said.
