×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Govt to compensate displaced villagers

News
Government will compensate hundreds of villagers affected by the Mtshabezi-Umzingwane water project in Matabeleland South, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told the community on Friday last week. Tsvangirai, who was speaking after a tour of the project, said projects that had national interest took precedence, but those affected should not be abandoned. “The State has a […]

Government will compensate hundreds of villagers affected by the Mtshabezi-Umzingwane water project in Matabeleland South, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told the community on Friday last week.

Tsvangirai, who was speaking after a tour of the project, said projects that had national interest took precedence, but those affected should not be abandoned.

“The State has a right in the national interest to put up a project whether a road or a pipeline or anything. The only thing is that you should be able to compensate those who will be affected. I think that is the principle,” he said.

Water Resources Development and Management minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, who was accompanying the Premier, said the pipeline passed through some homesteads and farming lands.

“I do know that there are areas where we went through a field and other areas where we went through a homestead and we are definitely not going to hit and run and leave those people without any assistance. We are going to try and assist them,” the minister said.

“If we have gone through your home, we are going to assist to relocate maybe to a few metres forward or backwards, but certainly we are going to assist those whom we are going to disturb their lifestyle.”

Nkomo could not shed light on how much had been set aside to compensate the affected villagers.

Also accompanying Tsvangirai was Bulawayo Mayor Thaba Moyo, Chief Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Ian Makone, deputy ministers Murisi Zwizwai (Information) and Sessel Zvidzai (Local Government), among others.

The Mtshabezi–Umzingwane pipeline project, viewed as a short-term solution to Bulawayo’s water crisis, is set to be completed by the end of this year.