WASHINGTON —
War veterans and their wives Monday besieged Governor Titus Maluleke’s offices at the Benjamin Burombo building in Masvingo for the second day running demanding, among other things, to be allocated sugar cane plots in the lowveld.
The former freedom fighters also demanded that some youths arrested in Bikita while mining illegally should not be prosecuted.
Over a 100 war veterans gathered at the governor’s offices early Monday morning. Their wives joined them after similar action Friday.
The former freedom fighters are demanding sugar cane plots in the lowveld arguing they also want to get into the lucrative industry.
The war veteran leaders were then invited into a private meeting with the governor while their colleagues waited outside.
Details of the meeting were not immediately available. War veterans spokesman Kid Muzenda said they have lost patience with Maluluke.
Maluleke as governor chairs the Masvingo land committee which is responsible mainly for allocating land to the people.
At least 150 people are said to have been allocated pieces of land in the lucrative region but the former freedom fighters claim they have been shunned.
They are demanding Maluleke should speedily allocate them their share before crucial elections expected later this year. The governor refused to talk to the press.
The war veterans are also demanding that a group of about 100 youths arrested during a police clampdown on illegal miners in Bikita be released from detention without charges being preferred against them.
It is alleged that some senior Zanu-PF officials, among them politburo members, are involved in the illegal mining of tantalite, a mineral discovered recently near Bikita Minerals Mine.
The discovery of tantalite in the area has seen hundreds flocking to the district to for illegal mining activities.
The former freedom fighters also demanded that some youths arrested in Bikita while mining illegally should not be prosecuted.
Over a 100 war veterans gathered at the governor’s offices early Monday morning. Their wives joined them after similar action Friday.
The former freedom fighters are demanding sugar cane plots in the lowveld arguing they also want to get into the lucrative industry.
The war veteran leaders were then invited into a private meeting with the governor while their colleagues waited outside.
Details of the meeting were not immediately available. War veterans spokesman Kid Muzenda said they have lost patience with Maluluke.
Maluleke as governor chairs the Masvingo land committee which is responsible mainly for allocating land to the people.
At least 150 people are said to have been allocated pieces of land in the lucrative region but the former freedom fighters claim they have been shunned.
They are demanding Maluleke should speedily allocate them their share before crucial elections expected later this year. The governor refused to talk to the press.
The war veterans are also demanding that a group of about 100 youths arrested during a police clampdown on illegal miners in Bikita be released from detention without charges being preferred against them.
It is alleged that some senior Zanu-PF officials, among them politburo members, are involved in the illegal mining of tantalite, a mineral discovered recently near Bikita Minerals Mine.
The discovery of tantalite in the area has seen hundreds flocking to the district to for illegal mining activities.
