The Manicaland Minister’s son offer letter for the productive coffee farm has been revoked by the government. “After taking all factor...
The Manicaland Minister’s son offer letter for the productive
coffee farm has been revoked by the government.
“After taking all factors into consideration, Cabinet
resolved and directed as follows (a) that Mr Le Vieux be issued with an offer
letter for his portion of Farfell Coffee Estates, that is Lot 2 (220 hactares)
in keeping with the Government framework of maximum farm sizes (b) that if he
so wishes, Mr Le Vieux be issued with an appropriate lease agreement with
respect to Lot 1, so as to guarantee continuity of the very productive and
strategic commercial operations currently taking place at Lot 1; (c) that the
offer letter of Lot 1 (229 hectares) to Mr Mbudzana be consequently revoked;
and (d) that as, any Zimbabwean, Mr Mbudzana can be considered for land
allocation in other available areas in Chipinge District,” acting Lands and
Agriculture Minister Oppah Muchinguri said in a statement.
Mr Le Vieux expressed satisfaction with Government’s
decision.
“The last few months there has been some confusion as to
the correct title and tenure of this land by the company and I am happy to say
this has been dealt with effectively by Cabinet, by the President and it sends
a positive message to all who are producing and exporting in the country that
we cannot have disruptions, that we cannot (promote) instability and that we
cannot have opportunistic seizures of assets which is what was going on in my
case.
“What you see here is a 25-year investment, it doesn’t
happen overnight and it’s not easy,” Mr Le Vieux said.
The land in question (Lot 1) was initially offered to Chief
Mapungwana in 2009 while Mr Le Vieux remained with the remainder (Lot 2).
“However, it later came to the notice of the Ministry of
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement that Chief Mapungwana
never took occupation of or utilised Lot 1,” Minister Muchinguri said.
“Instead, he allegedly sold that land to Mr Le Vieux who
proceeded to invest heavily and is currently undertaking some productive
activities on Lot 1. The ministry then duly revoked the offer letter to Chief
Mapungwana in terms of Government policy.”
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