TSHAKHUMA – The increasing crime rate in the country was raised as one of the issues currently causing great concern for the government, said the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiua Lekota.

He addressed farmers during a meeting at the Ramaano Mbulaheni Training Centre last Saturday.

He appealed to residents to work hand-in- hand with the police, policing forums and other structures in combating crime. He stated that the government was committed to address-ing the issue of land restitution. He also asked residents to be patient, saying that the process of land restitution was likely to take years to complete.

"This is a very sensitive issue that needs to be treated according to the law in order to avoid the situation that was prevailing in Zimbabwe a few months ago," he said. He stressed the fact that the present landowner must be compensated fairly, in a bid to avoid chaos and lawlessness.

According to him the government spends millions of rands in maintaining and repatriating illegal immigrants and refugees. He stated that illegal immigrants are committing most of the serious crimes like murder and rape. "So if you come across a foreigner who does not have the necessary documents, please report him or her to the police, because the longer they stay in the country, the more crimes they commit," he said. He condemned the tendency of taxi drivers who transport illegal immigrants, (knowing full well that they do not have the required documents), simply to get paid.

The farm workers appealed to the minister to consider the possibility of the government subsidising their wages, indicating that they are earning as little as nothing while working under extremely poor conditions.

In response, Lekota stated that the current government policy to provide services like free water and free medical treatment given to pregnant mothers and children below the age of six, is a subsidy for the poor.

"We are not going to give you money in hand as it may end up being spent on gambling activities like the lotto and horse racing." The meeting was attended by the Makhado municipality councillors, chiefs, members from the farmers union, farmers and representatives from the local community structures.