Illegal settlers challenged

Senior Reporter
PROVINCIAL Administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa last week threw the gauntlet at individuals, politicians and traditional leaders behind the spate of illegal land allocations that have created chaos in farming communities of Manicaland.Mr Mbetsa fired the salvo in Makoni District last Friday at the installation of Mr Joseph Mubaya Masvosva as the authentic Headman Masvosva.

Headman Masvosva serves under Chief Makoni.

Mr Mbetsa made it clear that the days of the “jambanja style of invasion”, self and haphazard allocation of land were over.

He said powers to allocate land were now vested with Government.

“The jambanja style of invasion and self allocation of plots must come to an end forthwith. We also call upon people to stop all illegal settlement in the districts.

“Only Government shall acquire, plan, peg and then allocate land properly,” declared Mr Mbetsa.

Mr Mbetsa said traditional leaders, civil servants, war veterans, church leaders and leaders of all political parties were there to ensure the success of the land reform programme through fair, transparent and honest selection of beneficiaries.

Mr Mbetsa’s comments follow the cancer which had hit Manicaland with delicate consequences in which officials from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, District Administrators and local authorities had to intervene to regularise the illegal land allocations.

Most illegal settlements are being done in vleis, waterways, mountains and pastures.

Mr Mbetsa said traditional leaders were installed to jealously guard natural resources in areas under their jurisdiction, but most were less effective as they had become part of the rot or merely failed to assert their authority.

“We wonder where they will be when we see wanton destruction of natural resources, uncontrolled tree cutting, veld fires and stream bank cultivation. Our heritage is going to waste before our eyes,” said Mr Mbetsa.

According to the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17, a traditional leader is expected to serve as head of communities under their jurisdiction, custodian to cultural values, supervise village heads, custodian of land and natural resources, custodian of republic properties like clinics, schools, telephone and electricity lines.

Traditional leaders also discharge functions conferred upon them in terms of Customary Law and Local Courts Act (Chapter 7:5) as well as mediating in disputes of customary nature like lobola, burials, domestic disputes, performance of customary roles and any other interpersonal disagreements excluding those that are subject to the general law of the country.

The rise of Headman Masvosva to the throne was not smooth sailing as the acting one was refusing to vacate the throne.

Reports abound that he had set some parallel structures to strengthen his grip on the throne.

The occasion witnessed the dismantling of such structures as the new heir apparently dethroned some village heads that were put in place illegally.

To quell the tension, Mr Mbetsa called for cohesion within the dynasty.

“Needless to say, the people under Headman Masvosva should support and respect him in his endeavour to direct and steer the Masvosva headmanship and his affairs of community.

“Huru inokudzwa nowayo. You must respect him and his authority because he is the one on the throne. Those who despise him are also despising the power of God who ushered him to the throne.

“An intelligent and credible leader derives legitimacy and effectiveness through close liaison and consultation with his lower structures and other stakeholders,” said Mr Mbetsa.

Headman Masvosva was born on October 1 1977. He did his primary education at Nerwande Primary School from 1985 to 1992.

He proceeded to Chamakumbu Secondary School, also in Masvosva, where he completed his studies in 1996.

He went to Harare where he briefly worked at Machaka Buses workshop for six years, following which he headed back home to join the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Masvosva, where he served as a contract employee for two years.

Upon the termination of his employment contract, Headman Masvosva settled down home as a peasant farmer.

He is married to Pauline.