adminMidlands Correspondent
A LAND dispute has erupted in Gokwe South after a commercial farmer took over villagers’ communal fields and set up some pens for his cattle. The farmer, only identified as Mr Johnson, is said to be a director of a Kwekwe-based abattoir, Caswell Meats. He reportedly approached Gokwe South Rural District Council seeking a piece of land for his special pen feeding project.
According to the affected villagers, Gokwe South Rural District Council then identified a 10 hectare piece of land in Mapfumo Village under Chief Njelele without consulting the traditional leader.
The villagers said the now commercialised piece of land was part of their communal fields.
“We were taken by surprise when we saw a white farmer invading our piece of land and erecting perimeter fence for the paddocks in our fields. We tried to engage our local traditional leader, Chief Njelele, but he also seemed to be in the dark. He said he was not privy to the strange development,” said one of the affected villagers, Mr Norbert Maphosa.
Mr Maphosa said the villagers at one point wanted to attack the farmer’s workers but were restrained by Chief Njelele.
He said Chief Njelele promised to engage the local authority.
Another villager, Mr Thomson Siziba, said he has since hired a tractor to till his plot despite the fact that the area was fenced for the cattle fattening project.
“I was running out of time to prepare for the summer farming season and I have since prepared my piece of land despite the fact that there is a perimeter fence for the paddocks. We are still waiting for Chief Njelele to address this problem,” he said.
Chief Njelele confirmed the incident.
He said he approached Mr Johnson after learning of the development.
Chief Njelele said Mr Johnson proved to him that he was in possession of legal documents from the council confirming he was now the legal owner of the piece of land in question.
“I was also taken by surprise when I learnt of the development but when I inquired, I then learnt that the land was allocated to Mr Johnson for his cattle feeding project.
“The area was idle over the years and the villagers only came to me to claim they were the legal owners of the piece of land after they realised that it was being developed,” he said.
Gokwe RDC chief executive officer Mr Sailas Velapi confirmed that the local authority allocated the land to Mr Johnson.
He said according to the records, the area has been idle since 1960.
“It’s true that Gokwe RDC allocated a piece of land to a farmer who intends to embark on a cattle fattening project.
“The council deliberated on the issue and identified the piece of land which has been idle since 1960,” he said.
Mr Johnson also confirmed that he was actually in possession of legal documents which proved he was on the piece of land legally.
“You can come this side so that I can show you these documents, if you like,” said Mr Johnson, who declined to give his full name.
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