SEVENTEEN families, including that of Chipinge East MP Matthias Mlambo, are facing a bleak future after Zanu PF supporters allegedly working in cahoots with District Administrator (DA) Freeman Mavhiza reportedly ordered them to urgently vacate their government-allocated farming plots.
Report By OBEY MANAYITI STAFF REPORTER
Three months ago, Mavhiza wrote to the farmers advising them to vacate their plots at Daisy Hill Farm on the grounds that the property had been allocated to a Zanu PF activist, Alec Munjokodi.
Part of the letter, dated October 29, reads: “Land Dispute: Village 3 Muswera. You are advised to stop any farming activities on the said land until the matter is resolved. Information on records indicates that the land belongs to Mr Alec Munjokodi. Please be guided accordingly.”
The farm was acquired by government in 1985 and allocated to 18 farmers, including Munjokodi. But Munjokodi later turned around claiming the whole property belonged to him because his father once worked at the farm.
The matter then spilled into the courts where Munjokodi’s claims were dismissed as unfounded before it took a new political twist.
The affected families yesterday described Mavhiza’s directive as politically-motivated.
“This is clear political victimisation,” said Mlambo.
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“The matter was dealt with a long time ago by the late DA Mundeta who ruled that Munjokodi had no basis to evict us. The courts also made it clear that our eviction would be illegal.
However, the new DA has thought otherwise and we suspect that this is now political.
“Zanu PF members in this constituency have always sought to weaken the MDC by such intimidation. Because of these disturbances, people have not prepared adequately for this farming season and ultimately we are going to face a massive food shortage.
“This is just punishment, but I am glad that we are not going to be moved by such machinations,” said Mlambo.
