Demolitions under probe

Masvingo Bureau
Government is probing last week’s demolition of some five homesteads in Mukanganwi communal lands in Bikita precipitated by a decades-old boundary dispute between two headmen.The Deputy Sheriff led the demolitions and indicated that another 21 homesteads were in line for destruction.

This follows a default judgment passed by the High Court against Headman Herbert Masunda in the matter in which he and Headman Richard Mukari were at loggerheads over the boundary between their two villages.

The dispute dates back to the pre-independence era. However, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has said Government is seeking ways to halt the demolitions that have left scores of people homeless and resulted in destruction of property worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Minister Bhasikiti said, “We are closely looking into the issue of demolition of homesteads in Bikita following a boundary dispute between two headmen.”