Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Check Point Desk
GOVERNMENT has ordered villagers who were allegedly sold and allocated land by Chief Mphini in Ward 21, Bulilima District, to immediately stop any further development until the matter is deliberated on by a full council meeting.
More than 80 people are said to have been settled in the area with locals expressing concern that most of the beneficiaries are not from the district or the province.
Bulilima District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Onesimo Zvogara, confirmed the latest development saying there have been numerous complaints from villagers over the land issue.
Concerns are that the occupied land had been reserved for pastures for livestock, and that a number of meetings were held before it was finally resolved to order a halt to any further development.
“What is very clear is that the allocation of the land was improperly done by whoever did it, the procedure was not followed. Villagers are blaming a certain traditional leader,” said Mr Zvogara.
“We then decided to order a stop to any further development until a full council meeting comes up with a way forward,” he said.
Mr Zvogara said traditional leaders, when allocating land, have to do it in consultation with the Rural District Council in line with the terms of the Communal Land Act (Chapter 20:04).
He said the occupied land was part of the corridor of development for the local authority which was earmarked for council offices since council is at the moment operating from Plumtree Town.
“Council was never involved in this matter and it’s now an issue that requires them to meet and make a decision as councillors,” said Mr Zvogara.
Affected villagers said they got the land after paying about 5 000 rand to Chief Mphini, who, however, is on record denying any involvement in the allocation of the land.
“I remember that I went to the chief’s aide after getting wind that there was land being sold. He took me to the Chief, who said land was there, but he needed 5 000 rand but at that time I only had 4 000 rand,” said a villager who asked for anonymity for fear of victimisation.
Another villager, Mr Austin Gcwalisani Mthombeni said prices were dependent on where the buyer was based.
“Some of these people were charged US$200, others 3 000 rand or even 5 000 rand,” said Mr Mthombeni.
The villagers said they have since engaged the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the issue.
“Between the years 2000-2002, Chief Mphini acting with and through his Aides and a Village Head, one Howard Nkomo began seizing the grazing land afore referred to, subdividing it and parcelling it to persons from outside the village,” reads part of the letter to Zacc.
“In the knowledge that the unlawful sale of state/communal land is corrupt and criminal, we call upon your good offices to institute investigations into the matter so that, should there be tangible evidence of corrupt conduct by any of the persons suspected, same should meet the full force of the law, regardless of their status. Accordingly, we call upon your office for action.”
