Chronicle EditorPatrick Chitumba, [email protected]
Vungu Rural District Council (RDC) and households from Muchakata Village in the Chiwundura area have finally resolved a development-induced displacement conflict that had previously caused a stalemate.
The conflict had arisen due to disagreements between Vungu RDC and affected families regarding compensation for those who had settled after the gazetting of the rural service centre.
However, a Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT) facilitated dialogue saw the community and RDC engaging in open discussions on compensation, relocation, and incorporation.
As a result, the RDC offered free residential plots for families who resided in the rural service centre before it was gazetted in 1982, along with compensation for lost livelihoods and lost properties.
The affected families reacted positively, and a meeting facilitated by CCMT in Gweru revealed that 11 out of 18 households have already formalised their stands after signing MoUs with the council.
Plans have been put in place to start pegging their stands and giving them offer letters. However, disagreements remain on how informal settlers should be treated despite commitments by the RDC to compensate all affected community members.
According to a local village head, Mr Collin Chiwundura, who was representing the Muchakata area and is among the affected families, they were told their area had been gazetted for a new rural service centre after Vungu RDC officials came to peg their stands in 2017.
“All along we were unaware that 18 households were in a designated area. At first, we wanted to refuse to be involved in this development, but we were engaged by CCMT to dialogue with the RDC to ensure constructive resolution of the conflict,” he said.
“We feel like this development should benefit us as we settled in Muchakata before it was gazetted.”
Vungu RDC planner, Mr Verinos Chebundo, said the Muchakata area was designated as a rural service centre in 1982 and the municipality had officially incorporated the 18 households in the affected area.
“There was some initial resistance by some households as they believed that they could not be displaced from their forefathers’ land,” he said.
“But after the intervention of CCMT, we started seeing some positive engagements and negotiations.”
Mr Chebundo said plans were afoot to start pegging stands for the affected families.
“As a council, we will assist in ensuring the issue of graves is quickly finalised. The council will fund exhumations when there is a need.
“We are looking at identifying a cemetery at Muchakata and we will work on that together with the traditional leaders, and District Development Coordinator. A cemetery has already been set up in Insukamini in Lower Gweru, and we are now looking at setting up for the Mangwande and Muchakata areas.”
Chief Chisadza said the RDC should place a prohibition order to stop the affected households from burying their loved ones in the designated area.
Local Government Services director, Mr Charltone Murove, commended the positive engagement between the council and affected residents.
“We should have prioritised goals, and this matter of exhumation should start with identifying the number of graves that will be exhumed. Designating a new cemetery should be treated as a matter of urgency,” he said.
CCMT projects officer, Ms Rumbidzai Magurupira, said despite a commitment by Vungu RDC to compensate those affected, disagreements over how informal settlers should be treated remained.
Online Reporter