Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi (left) and his Namibian counterpart Evaristo Shikongo during a tour on September 8, 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
September 9, 2013
Zimbabwe Herald
Fungai Lupande Reporter
Visiting Commissioner General Evaristus Shikongo of Namibia Correctional Services yesterday applauded the land reform programme in Zimbabwe as one of the best on the continent. Commissioner General Shikongo said this after a tour of Zimbabwe Prisons Services Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi’s farm in Shamva.
Accompanied by his deputy, Commissioner Ben Buchane, Comm Gen Shikongo said Namibia president Hifikepunye Pohamba has already asked Members of Parliament in his country to seek better ways of getting the land back to the people.
“We have a willing-seller, willing-buyer principle, allocating the land to previously disadvantaged people.
“However, this has proved unfruitful and the President has registered his concern. President Pohamba recently asked Members of Parliament for a better way of dealing with the situation and we are yet to know of the way forward,” he said.
Comm Gen Buchane emphasised that Zimbabwe’s land reforms were very fruitful contrary to what the Western media portrays.
He added that African countries’ liberation was about getting back the land to its rightful owners, adding that land redistribution is an effective poverty reduction strategy.
“We have seen for ourselves and I confidently say the situation on farms is that they are productive, contrary to what other people say. Unless they have unknown issues with Zimbabwe, what they say is wrong.
“We were also impressed with the civic education programmes by ZPS as the best strategy of teaching the inmates the history of the country. We are considering incorporating the same strategy because in Namibia we have many born frees,” he said.
Comm Gen Buchane said in Namibia they did not have open prison facilities and they were impressed by how Connemara Open Prison operates.
“What overwhelmed us is the home leave facility because we don’t have such a facility. We are going to try it because it is important.
“We were given two cattle by Comm Gen General Zimondi. We are humbled by the gesture and it is a big honour to our government. He is doing well on his farm,” he said.
Comm General Zimondi said Comm Gen Shikongo’s visit was important because he is retiring soon and wanted to venture into farming.
“Soon we will be sending our officers to Namibia.
“We stand to learn a lot from each other considering that they are also good farmers.
“As ZPS we feel humbled and honoured that our good programmes are appreciated not only locally but also regionally,” he said.
Present at the event was Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, ZPS Deputy Commissioner Rhodes Moyo, and Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central chairman Cde Dickson Mafios among other dignitaries.
No comments:
Post a Comment