MDC rules out repossessing seized land

Zimbabwe’s official opposition MDC has ruled out repossessing land from those who benefitted from former President Robert Mugabe’s chaotic land seizures more than two decades ago should it win the coming elections. The Daily News reports that its presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa, told his supporters that his government would not take back the farms, but rather would empower the resettled farmers by giving them title deeds to fully own the land. He slammed the ruling Zanu-PF party, saying it had given the resettled farmers unbankable 99-year leases which did not give the farmers full ownership. ‘Once we start to govern, we are not going to be taking land from anyone, but we are saying we need title deeds,’ he said.