Mugabe elite exposed again in new list of land seizures

Robert Mugabe and his cronies have once again been exposed as the top beneficiaries of the unlawful land grab campaign, in a new report published last week.

The report by the Daily News shows that Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, as well as most Zanu PF cabinet members and top military personnel, own multiple farms across the country. The list shows that the land grabbers own a staggering five million hectares of Zimbabwe’s best agricultural land, which is a third of all the land seized over the past 11 years.
The list says the Mugabes own at least 13 farms, covering more than 15 000 hectares, while Mugabe’s close relatives own more than 20 farms. The relatives include Mugabe’s sisters and nephews Leo Mugabe and Patrick Zhuwao. Leo Mugabe owns three farms, Nangadza farm in Mhangura and Journey’s end farm in Makonde, Mashonaland East province and another farm believed to be in Banket. Zhuwao owns Marivale farm in Mazowe.
Mugabe’s late sister Sabina’s farm is listed as Rem Ext of Mlembwe in Makonde, while the First Lady’s late brother, Reward Marufu, is listed as owning Leopards Vlei farm in Glendale and Kachere farm in Mazowe.
At the same time, Mugabe’s deputy Joice Mujuru, her husband Solomon Mujuru and many of their relatives are said to own at least 22 farms.
Among the military top brass listed as beneficiaries are the Commander of the defence forces Constantine Chiwenga and Air Marshall Perence Shiri, who have two farms each. Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri is listed as having one farm.
Almost all ZANU PF politburo members, MPs and senators were also allocated farms, as well as many traditional leaders and top judges.
The ZimOnline report shows that, contrary to Mugabe’s claims that the land grab was for the benefit of the nation, a “new well-connected black elite of about 2 200 people now control close to half of the most profitable land seized from about 4 100 commercial farmers.” The report said that Mugabe and his top allies control nearly 40 per cent of the 14 million hectares of land seized from white-owned farms.– SW Radio Africa

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