adminMidlands Governor Jason Machaya said the 700 families from Mapfungautsi’s Bhandapamwe and Gondoma areas were the first to benefit from the Government’s resettlement programme since the vast district did not have commercial farms that traditionally sustained the programme.
He said more families were set to benefit from a similar programme in Gokwe North following the acquisition of 25 000 hectares of land from Chirisa Game Park.
“The Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, has allocated us 10 000ha to settle our people in the Mapfungautsi area. Mapfungautsi
Forestry land is 100 000ha big. As Governor of the province, I welcome the development as our people in Gokwe were crowded.
This is the first direct benefit for Gokwe people because there were no commercial farms to settle them. The programme and that of Chirisa Game Park will help ease pressure on the Gokwe area because of the district’s population growth,” said Governor Machaya.
“The 700 families that benefited were living in the area illegally in the past but their settlement has since been formalised following the availing of the land by the ministry. This paves way for Government departments or ministries to provide social services like schools, clinics and roads in the area.”
He said a school in the Gondoma area which was operating from makeshift structures was in the process of being regularised following the formalisation of the settlement.
“The school has over 400 pupils and they were conducting lessons under dagga and pole structures. Parents are excited as their children can now get quality education as the school is being regularised. Proper pegging of the school is going on. The responsible authority, Gokwe South Rural District Council, is working putting up proper structures,” said Governor Machaya.
The Midlands Governor said the 25 000ha weaned from the 150 000ha Chirisa Game Park would help roll the villagisation programme for people from areas under chiefs Sayi, Nemangwe and Chireya.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for availing space for the resettlement programme in Gokwe in the Mapfungautsi Forestry Area and Chirisa Game Park.
“I am very excited with the programme. We had problems in the past to accommodate Gokwe people in the land reform programme. Only a few benefited outside the district but the majority remained behind living in crowded areas. As you know, grazing lands and fields become sparse under such conditions. I am glad the Government finally acted and we are no longer afraid to face the people of Gokwe when talking about land,” said Governor Machaya.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the land wisely for the benefit of future generations.
Online Reporter