Online Reporter
George Maponga in MWENEZI
GOVERNMENT has started the reorganisation of settlements in the vast Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi in a move that will see 14 000 families settled on the estate getting security of tenure documents.
The majority of the families were displaced from the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam basin in Chivi in 2014 and relocated to Chingwizi and Masangula in the Nuanetsi.
According to the Government, this reorganisation will give the families official security of tenure documents confirming their rights to the land. This will also enable them to use irrigation water from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam.
As patron of the Development Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) that manages Nuanetsi Ranch, President Mnangagwa donated 80 000 hectares to resettle landless people in Masvingo province.
The ongoing reorganisation of settlements is also being done to allow the implementation of joint venture projects sealed between DTZ and nine private investors.
DTZ signed 25-year leases for the private investors to venture into citrus and sugarcane production under irrigation using Tugwi Mukosi water.
Two of the investors have since set up solar systems that will generate power and also feed into the national grid.
Coordinator for Flagship Programmes and Projects, Deputy Chief Secretary, Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Amos Marawa said the Government would give the families security of tenure documents.
“There is ongoing reorganisation of settlements here at Nuanetsi for all those who were haphazardly settled and the settlers will be resettled on the 80 000 hectares that was set aside for the exercise after President Mnangagwa, as DTZ patron donated the land for that,” Engineer Marawa said.
“The families being relocated will get security of tenure documents and the Government will also develop infrastructure such as roads, schools and clinics in the new areas they are being moved into.”
Giving the families valid permits would give them legal title, while also strategically positioning them to benefit from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam.
The reorganisation of settlements in Nuanetsi will also allow smooth rollout of joint venture projects sealed between DTZ and private investors to develop 25 000 hectares of virgin land into cane and citrus fields.
Citrus and sugar cane would be value-added in a culmination of an eight-year plan that will see a sugar mill and a canning factory being established at Nuanetsi Ranch.
This will create thousands of jobs and create avenues for exports of citrus to niche global markets like China, earning Zimbabwe foreign currency.
Permanent secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Addmore Pazvakavambwa also confirmed that the reorganisation of settlements at Nuanetsi was ongoing.
“To date 75 families have already been moved to new areas in Nuanetsi where they are supposed to stay after getting permits for their land,” he said.
“The Government will set up infrastructure in those areas and already four boreholes have been drilled and more will be drilled.”
DTZ general manager Mr Emmanuel Jaricha, however, said families being relocated in the reorganisation exercise would not be compensated.
“There will be no compensation that will be paid to the families save for the permits for their new land,” he said.
“Infrastructure is being developed in areas where people are being moved to under the reorganisation exercise and I am happy that on top of the four boreholes that have been drilled to date, 12 more boreholes will be drilled for the families in the coming few weeks.”
Reorganising settlements in Nuanetsi augurs well for the Government’s plans to make sure families displaced by the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam and were moved to Nuanetsi are among the first to benefit from the reservoir’s water.
By virtue of its position, about 60 percent of Nuanetsi Ranch’s land area is irrigable with Tugwi-Mukosi water.
