A WAR veteran in Sanyati, Mashonaland West province, is facing eviction from his six-hectare farm after gold deposits were discovered on the land, attracting what he describes as “greedy” individuals. The matter is before the courts.
Timothy Tivoro (76), an ex-combatant, has lived at Easterlea Farm since 1999. He was originally resettled from another Sanyati farm to make way for a dam under a presidential scheme before being allocated Easterlea Farm, Plot 1, Village A, where he carries out agricultural activities.
Tivoro told NewsDay that he is appealing for government intervention to prevent the eviction.
“I was relocated from my first farm in Sanyati in 1999 to pave way for dam construction under a presidential scheme and I was given a six-hectare farm at Easterlea in the same year,” he said. “But all my problems started when I employed one Lawrence Kazungu to do manual work.”
He said gold deposits were discovered in 2018 and he was granted a special mining permit under SG7660.
“The person I employed tried to change everything because of my age. He connived with some officials from the Ministry of Mines,” he alleged. “Kazungu is being greedy and I do not understand why he is doing this.”
Keep Reading
- Number of war vets needing limbs declines
- Number of war vets needing limbs declines
- War vet wings 'clipped': Analysts
- We'll defend Zanu PF rule: War vets
Tivoro alleged that Kazungu, who initially operated a chrome mine nearby, later encroached onto his land and altered farm coordinates. He said the officials involved in the alleged changes have since been fired.
Former Mines minister Winston Chitando cancelled Kazungu’s mining licence, citing illegal pegging.
In a letter dated July 16, 2018, Chitando upheld the cancellation of Phoebe 49 Mine, saying it had been pegged in contravention of the Mines and Minerals Act and without the landowner’s consent.
However, Kazungu dismissed the allegations, insisting that he has the required paperwork.
“I stay with him in the same village,” he said. “He is lying that he is a war veteran. Ask him to show you a payslip indicating that he is a war veteran. He is trying to create a dispute and we have all the necessary papers.”