Divisions within ex-ZPRA cadres are hindering the return by the government of the former’s properties confiscated during Zimbabwe’s early days of independence, Tshinga Dube, who was part of the ZPRA high command said Thursday.
The ex-ZPRA freedom fighters lost their properties when the government seized them under the Unlawful Organisation Act in 1982 (Caveat No. 15 of 82) and transferred to the President of Zimbabwe in January 1987 (under Caveat No. 56 of 87).
This was after the veterans had contributed $50 each from their demobilisation payout after independence to purchase 52 properties through their investment vehicle, Nitram Investments Private Limited.
Since then ZPRA has been lobbying the government to release their properties whose worth is said to be running into billions of dollars.
Some of the properties include Magnet House which houses the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) offices in Bulawayo, Kudu Motors, Hampton Farm, Ascot Farm, Nest-egg farm, Woodyglen Farm, Mbalabala Garage, Nyamandlovu Farm, Snake Park and Salisbury Motel in Harare among others.
Addressing mourners during the burial of former ZPRA intelligence officer and Mafela Trust director, Zephaniah Nkomo at the Nkulumane Provincial Heroes Acre in Bulawayo, Thursday, Dube said while President Emmerson Mnangagwa has agreed that the properties of ZAPU’s military wings be returned to the owners, divisions within the ZPRA ex-combatants were derailing the whole process.
“President Mnangagwa has agreed to return those properties and he told us to go to Vice President Kembo Mohadi,” said Dube.
“The problem is that some of us have started sharing the meat before the beast has been slaughtered.”
He said it was regrettable there were some cadres who no longer wanted to be represented by ZPRA high command members.
“We have to meet and go to Mohadi,” Dube pleaded with the ex-ZIPRA cadres.
“What is important above all is unity.”
