adminConrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
MAKONDE District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Benjamin Zivanai, has launched an investigation on land barons and illegal settlers violating the Agricultural Land Settlement Act in the district.
A meeting was held at the District Development Co-ordinators’ office on Thursday to find ways of addressing land disputes in Mhangura constituency .
Recently, three people were shot by a farmer in the constituency as they tried to settle illegally at Ridziwi Farm owned by the family of the late former Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Charles Utete.
Mr Zivanai said they were concerned by the land disputes and noted an increase of illegal settlers
“The meeting was specifically on illegal settlers who have increased in the district especially in Mhangura constituency. We had other concerned stakeholders like the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), police, the Forestry Commission and Department of Lands and Resettlement and we discussed how best we could deal with the issue.
“We resolved to intensify their removal starting next week as their acts are criminal,” he said.
Other issues raised during the meeting included fake offer letters possessed by some of the settlers, with some politicians and village heads reportedly acting as lands officers and resettling people haphazardly.
“We are now busy compiling names of the illegal settlers who will soon be served with eviction papers. The lands department was also tasked during the same meeting to resolve the issue of some people who have fake offer letters across the district.”
The increase in illegal settlers had resulted in rampant deforestation.
Mr Zivanai said there were plans to establish a seven-member committee that would help dissolve the powers village heads had in the allocation of land.
The committee would act on a rotational basis thereby eliminating corruption.
Online Reporter