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Authorities in Midlands are evicting more than 200 illegal farm settlers in the province. Provincial chief lands officer Mr Joseph Shoko said they roped in the police to help remove the illegal settlers. Some of the settlers targeted farms owned by indigenous people. “The issue of illegal settlers has been giving us problems so we are taking people to court while at the same time engaging the police so that they can help us address the problem. For instance, we took some farm invaders at 22 West Gwelo block to court and they were convicted and fined US$200. If they fail to pay then they face six months’ imprisonment,” said Mr Shoko.
“We have engaged the police to help us evict some of these illegal settlers at 49 Wild Beest in Gweru while those at Chemagora in Gokwe have been co-operating.”
Mr Shoko said settlers at Chemagora agreed to be moved to Chirisa National Park in the same district.
He said some farmers were not utilising their land.
“We are in the process of inspecting farms of beneficiaries who want 99-year leases. Of late, we have had a number of people applying for farms and we are processing those applications,” said Mr Shoko.
Meanwhile, A1 and A2 farmers in many parts of the country are embroiled in disputes over the use of equipment and infrastructure resulting in damage to the property.
Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the ministry had received several reports on fights over property.
He said many cases were coming from the A1 sector where farmers were fighting over the use of irrigation, tobacco curing and storage facilities.
“It is clear that property on A1 farms belongs to Government. Anyone willing to use the property should apply for lease from the ministry and no one should use the infrastructure without a licence,” he said.
In some cases, the infrastructure is vandalised with farmers removing roofing material and irrigation pipes.
Dr Mombeshora said: “Property on A2 farms belongs to the resettled farmers. It is illegal for anyone else to come and use the property without the owner’s consent.
“When issuing the 99-year leases we consider the value of the assets at the farm to calculate the amount of money to be paid by the lease-holder,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said some farmers were reporting their disputes to the ministry yet there were offices to deal with the matters at district and provincial levels.
He said only those matters unresolved at the provincial level will be dealt with at a national level.
The ministry will soon carry out awareness campaigns on boundaries and farm property.
Online Reporter