Hunyani MP slams new invasions at Bellapez Farm

Diana Nherera

Hunyani Constituency Member of Parliament, Cde Tongai Mnangagwa, has castigated new occupation of land at Bellapez Farm.Speaking at farm on Friday last week, Cde Mnangagwa said: “On the ground, we do not want new invasions, we do not want people who will spoil a good thing.

“We say no to such people. If you want any assistance from the police, tell us, no to new invasions.

“You should not give in to people who want to invade this area and cause confusion. We want our pieces of land and our papers. He assured the people that there will be no evictions. He said President Emmerson Mnangagwa knows that his children are at Bellapez farm.

“We went to all offices with the councillor (Knowledge Mutapaire Machaya),” he said.

“We wrote our first letter to Civil Aviation and asked for residents to have stands where they are staying and Civil Aviation agreed. We also came across papers that read that only 250 people are supposed to live in this area.

“And we said no, our children from Tembwe should stay there. We tore them and we said it is not possible to remove people. An area where 5 000 families and then they say only 250 families were supposed to remain, not in a Zanu PF country, not in President Mnangagwa’s country, that is impossible.”

Cde Mnangagwa called for unity in Hunyani.

Local Government and Public Works, National Housing and Social Amenities and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministries have crafted a regularisation policy for all informal settlements to get roads, sewer and water reticulation.

Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Benjamin Kabikira said the policy also came up with the beneficiary pays principle.

“It means that if we get contractors for example for roads, beneficiaries of the land must pay for the road works, water and other services,” he said.

“So that is the principle that the three ministries put in place to reduce informal settlements in the country.”

Dep Min Kabikira said the Local Government Ministry has piloted two settlements, Joshua Nkomo Housing project in Aspindale and in Whitecliff.

Dep Min Kabikira assured residents of Bellapez that the third phase of the pilot project will benefit their area.