adminLuthando Mapepa
THE Chipinge Town Council last week evicted close to 200 families who were staying along the banks of the town‘s main water supplier -the Bangazani Dam.
At present, the dam which supplies the bulk of Chipinge town water is at 51 percent despite the incessant rains being received in the district.
Last year, an eviction order was granted by the courts against the illegal settlers, but the council faced a lot of resistance from the villagers as some political leadership in Chipinge misled them into continuing occupying the land. Chipinge received the nod to evict the families following the intervention of the Deputy Minister of Lands, Cde Berita Chikwama, who toured the area with members of the Joint Operation Command, council and Government officials in an effort to solve the dispute.
A resolution was made to evict the illegal settlers forthwith. Their crops were spared. Efforts to get a comment from the council chairperson, Councillor Lovemore Huni, were futile this week as his phone was not reachable.
However, a council official who declined to be named confirmed the development and said the eviction was long overdue. The source said the illegal settlers contributed to the water woes that residents were facing because of siltation.
“The council was having problems in evicting these people despite serving them with eviction orders last year.
“These illegal settlers are alleged to have enlisted the support of the political leadership in the area. The political leadership did not want them removed, but eventually gave in, thereby paving way for their eviction,” said the source.
Chipinge Town has resorted to water rationing and part of the problem is attributed to the illegal settlers.
Last year in November the council threatened to decommission the dam due to low water levels.
Online Reporter