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Mthuli: I’ve Been In Zimbabwe For Only 2 Weeks, Answer Responding On Military Abuses Of Citizens
8 December 2019
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Mthuli Ncube being grilled by Simba Chikanza at Chatham House

By Own Correspondent| The Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube last year promised to change govt policy on respecting property rights.

He gave the below responses to questions at London’s Chatham House institute on the 8th October 2018.

A year later we ask what has changed(?).

FULL TEXT –

Simba Chikanza: “Would you not agree that your commitment to the rule of law and to property rights is in question sir and I’m quoting here, legal experts from Veritas, who have raised for instance, two issues, the declaration of a military cantonment-area, on which there are mining claims, and the imposition of increased taxes, And electronic money transfers and they say this has raised questions about the government’s respect for property rights, and broadly the commitment to the rule of law.

And honorable Minister, Sir, it is not true that the only violent incident post-election is the one August there are numerous incidents of political violence that have continued even into this week and I’ve got a whole database here hereof people who either had their houses demolished, many have even been beaten on the streets we’re talking violence not by civilians; violence by either the military or members of the police force, and Sir, minister, do you not agree that your commitment to the rule of law and to property rights, your commitment to economic recovery is in question said since this is happening in your period?

Minister Mthuli Ncube replied saying, “…Simba on this issue about the commitment to the rule of law, I understand why you are saying it (sic) err, this incident, I don’t know what is true maybe you have better information than me which I suspect by the way, because I’ve only been in the country properly, not for one month but two weeks.”

Simba Chikanza: ” I’ve got full fact proof, checked, I’ve got a whole database that I can show you and the whole house; this is very very serious.

Mthuli Ncube: “I am hearing you but you see precedence is committed to abiding by the rule of law, you have said it on a full program, we are determined to do our best in this regard so but I’m not going to deny what you are saying as you have more information than me and I suspect, some so we are determined to make sure this stops and we abide by the rule of law, and expect property rights. I think what we are trying to do with the land issue as I was explaining and that it’s a simpler way we want to make sure…”