Latest news with #Gumbo
Arabian Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Title Deeds Under Fire: Zimbabwe's Land Reform Faces Parliamentary Scrutiny
Zimbabwe's ambitious land reform initiative, aimed at issuing title deeds to farmers, has come under intense parliamentary scrutiny, with legislators questioning the legal and financial viability of the new tenure documents. During a heated session in the National Assembly, Lands and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka faced a barrage of inquiries concerning the bankability and constitutional grounding of the title deeds being distributed to A1 and A2 farmers. Minister Masuka defended the government's decision, stating that the issuance of title deeds is rooted in the 2013 Constitution, which allows the President to grant more secure tenure documents. He acknowledged that previous instruments, such as 99-year leases, permits, and offer letters, had failed to instill confidence among financial institutions, rendering them ineffective as collateral for loans. 'The experience that we have had over the years is that these tenure documents were not readily accepted by banks as collateral,' Masuka admitted. He emphasized that the new title deeds are intended to provide a more secure form of land tenure, thereby facilitating access to financing for farmers. Despite these assurances, Members of Parliament expressed skepticism about the practical implications of the new title deeds. MP Stanley Sakupwanya questioned the legislative measures in place to ensure that the title deeds would indeed guarantee a farmer's security in terms of securing loans. MP Gumbo raised concerns about the legal status of the title deeds, pointing out that since ownership of the land is retained by the State, the bankability of the deeds remains questionable. 'What are the legal mechanisms and the legislative interventions that you are going to present to ensure the bankability of the said title deeds?' Gumbo asked. ADVERTISEMENT Minister Masuka responded by asserting that the legal aspects had been addressed within the framework of the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act. He highlighted that five banks are currently operating within the Department of Lands at a one-stop center, ready to offer mortgages to farmers holding the new title deeds. 'We hope that other banks will be able to replicate this, and we urge all farmers that have received title deeds to use these documents to access much-needed financing,' Masuka stated. The government's initiative to issue title deeds is part of a broader strategy to unlock the financial value of land and enhance agricultural productivity. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has projected that this approach could unlock as much as US$15 billion from land assets, providing a significant boost to the country's economy. However, the rollout of the program has not been without challenges. Concerns have been raised about corruption within the Ministry of Lands, with allegations of officials allocating land in wetlands and grazing areas, depriving villagers of essential agricultural and pastureland. The government has stated that cases of fraudulent land allocation have been reported to security agencies, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The title deeds are being issued through a streamlined process facilitated by a One Stop Centre, which consolidates various services to expedite the issuance of the documents. The process involves verification of land ownership, land surveys, and assessments to determine the purchase price, with the aim of reducing the time and complexity involved in obtaining title deeds. The government has committed to prioritizing key demographic groups, including war veterans, women, youths, and people with disabilities, in the distribution of the title deeds.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pet drug maker to add death, seizures to warning label on med investigated by Channel 2
A pet drug maker is making a big change on their labels for their new arthritis shot after Channel 2 Action News found pets getting really sick, even dying after getting the drug. The drug maker Zoetis is now including paralysis and seizures, and even death as possible side effects. it's a step in the right direction, but some pet owners say it's still not enough for those who lost a pet. Channel 2 investigative reporter Sophia Choi introduced you to Donna Pope last year after her 14-year-old French bulldog Gumbo died 10 days after getting a Librela shot on Dec. 29, 2023. 'I was just devastated. That was my baby,' Pope said. 'Gumbo was a little spitfire.' Her dog is one of hundreds of reported deaths linked to the arthritis drug which the FDA approved in May 2023. Through an open records request, we learned the FDA received at least 825 reports of dog deaths, linked to Librela between May 2023 and June 2024. Now Zoetis, is updating its label to include death, seizures and paralysis as possible side effects, which they call rare, with more than 1 million dogs in the US getting the shot. MORE STORIES FROM 2 INVESTIGATES: Couple says salesmen tricked them into really bad deal on Florida timeshare Students, teachers upset after popular Atlanta beauty school abruptly closes Georgia organ donor group works to overcome challenges, stigma of donation Woman says she went through months of frustration trying to get Sears to fulfill warranty 'This is something that we have prayed for and begged for,' Pope said. Zoetis said it, 'Has been in active discussions with the FDA about updating the label' and that 'It is not uncommon for products to have label updates as data emerges from real-world use. The company remains confident in the safety and effectiveness of Librela' Monique Owens said had she known the side effects, she would have never approved the shot for her Cane Corso named Vinny last summer 'It was as if he was drunk walking,' Owens said. Story continues below document Librela Prescribing Information 2025 by WSB-TV on Scribd Vinny is still going through therapy for paralysis, but he's alive. Pope is still mourning the loss of her dog saying Zoetis needs to do more. 'They've continued to downplay this and that's just not a response that's adequate given the thousands who have lost their lives including my Gumbo,' Pope said. The FDA contacted Choi directly in December saying they were going to warn vets about the possible serious side effects. This drug is a big money maker for Zoetis with the company predicting Librela and a version for cats will bring in more than $1 billion in three to five years.
