Online Reporter
The Herald, 23 June 1982
A LAND dispute that has been raging for several decades between the Epworth Methodist Mission authorities and original tenants on the 3 600 ha farms may soon come to an end. But the squatter problem that has plagued the area is getting worse.
The superintendent of the mission the Rev. Oswald Ramushu, said in an interview yesterday that negotiations had begun between the Government, the church authorities and the tenants aimed at the eventual handover of the farm lands to the people.
Of the 3600 ha Mr Ramushu said, only areas where the church was directly involved in community service on would remain under the mission’s authority. This included the church itself, the primary school, orphanage, theological college and staff housing.
“The remainder of the land will be handed over to the people to do as they wish with it,” he said. For many of the tenants, although the land dispute has occupied their minds for several decades, the growing squatter problem in more urgent, with more people settling in the area every day. The head man of the biggest village, Muguta, Mr Isaac Muzambo Chiremba, estimates the number of squatters in the area to be close to 10 000.
Mr Chiremba claims the handover of the mission to the people would be a mere formality since the land already belonged to them, having been purchased from contributions made by their forefathers.
What was more serious, Mr Chiremba said, was the growing squatter problem which the mission authorities, although claiming ownership of the land, appeared to have failed to solve.
According to Mr Chiremba, new houses being built by the squatters were springing up daily “They just come, some of them without consulting anyone,” he said. Others had acquired their plots from friends and relatives leaving the area to return to their homes after the war.
Lessons for today
- This situation highlights several important lessons, especially from the perspectives of the church and the community. The church’s involvement in community services like education and orphan care was commendable. However, the situation underscores the needed continuous and proactive engagement with the community to address evolving issues such as land disputes and squatting.
- The church’s role in negotiating with the government and tenants shows the importance of mediation and conflict resolution. It highlights the need for the church to act as a peacemaker and facilitator in resolving long-standing disputes.
- The tenants’ long-standing efforts to reclaim their land demonstrate the power of unity and collective advocacy. It shows that when a community stands together, it can effectively advocate for its rights and interests. Understanding and valuing the historical context of land ownership is crucial. The tenants’ knowledge of their forefathers’ contributions played a significant role in their claim to the land.
Bongani Ndlovu