adminHerald Reporter
Midlands province has embarked on a blitz to evict farm invaders with indications that there are more than 200 illegal settlers in the province, an official has said.
Chief lands officer in the province Mr Joseph Shoko said they were being assisted by police in the blitz.
The illegal settlers are largely targeting farms allocated to beneficiaries of the land reform programme.
“The issue of illegal settlers has been giving us problems so we are taking people to courts while at the same time engaging the police so that they can help us address the problem,” he said.
“For instance, we took some farm invaders at 22 West Gwelo block to court and they were convicted (last week) on Wednesday and fined US$200 (each). If they fail to pay then they face six months imprisonment.
“We have engaged the police to help us evict some of these illegal settlers at 49 Wild Beest in Gweru while those at Chemagora in Gokwe have been forthcoming.”
Mr Shoko said those at Chemagora agreed to be moved to Chirisa National Park in the same district.
He said there were high chances of better harvests in the province this farming season as a result of President Mugabe’s farm inputs scheme.
Online Reporter