ABOUT 300 Zanu PF supporters who had invaded several black-owned farms in Masvingo East were left homeless on Friday after police razed down their makeshift houses.
Tatenda Chitagu own correspondent
The invaders had grabbed Salemore, Sundowns, Chevden, Arksden, Menabilly, Doornfontein, Makwari, Kemmington, Vlacksfontein and Nhenga farms, about 45 kilometres along Masvingo-Mutare Road, accusing the farm owners of under-utilising the land and fronting for white farmers.
This is the second time in two years that the defiant invaders had their structures set ablaze by the police. A self-styled war veteran, Ruben Chikono, has been charged with leading the farm invasions and the matter is still pending at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court.
The affected villagers, who claimed to be war veterans, said police officers ordered them to remove their belongings before setting the structures ablaze.
The families have, however, vowed to stay put, saying they had nowhere else to go. They also accused Zanu PF betraying them after they overwhelmingly voted the ruling party’s candidates in last year’s general elections.
“Even if they (police) burn our homes, we are not going anywhere. We have nowhere to go, after leaving our original homes in 2001. I have no option, I came here because I had no land to till,” said, Marian Mahuswa, a widow who claimed to have originally come from Zaka under Chief Nyakunhuwa.
“We are exposed to the ravages of the weather. My child has stopped going to school because I am afraid he will come back and find me displaced or arrested. Our livestock has strayed because of these disturbances,” Jairos Chikomo lamented, struggling to hold back tears.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Masvingo’s acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa referred all questions to national police spokesperson, Charity Charamba, who was not picking her calls by end of day yesterday.
Masvingo provincial administrator Felix Chikovo, who is also the provincial lands committee chairman, could also not be reached for a comment yesterday.
However, Chikovo is on record as saying government would conduct a land audit to determine whether beneficiaries of the land reform were utilising their allocated farms.
Chikovo said the farms would also be sub-divided to accommodate about 5 000 people who were on the land waiting list amid concerns that the province had run out of land for resettlement.
