adminIn an interview, Chief Mtshane Khumalo said the leaders who include the MP, Cde Clifford Sibanda, Senator, Cde Lot Mbambo, Councillor Sithembiso Ndlovu and himself would soon meet over the issue.
“We are talking over the matter. I am not sure of what is going to happen as yet and we will only know when we meet.
“As for now I cannot tell when the meeting will be held but we have agreed that we will meet as leaders to discuss the issue,” said the chief.
Two weeks ago the villagers who benefited from the land reform exercise in 2000 clashed with Mr Swaris after he started clearing 200 hectares of land to extend his plot.
There are close to 200 families in the contested area in Ward 12 east of Inyathi Business Centre.
They said they now wanted Mr Swaris out the piece of land which was reserved for grazing and Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire).
Mr Swaris said he was allocated the piece of land by the Lands Committee in Matabeleland North Province.
Chief Mtshane said he was not aware that Mr Swaris had an offer letter.
“I am not aware that Swaris was offered the land. He should have sat down with the villagers and me but we never did. The villagers only got to know about it when he was clearing the piece of land,” he said.
The villagers had accused Clr Ndlovu of corruptly allocating land, but she denied the allegations.
Mr Swaris said his plans were genuine, as he wanted to construct a dam, start irrigation and cattle ranching projects on the 200 hectares to give back to the community of Inyathi where he was born.
He alleged that some of the people, who were against his occupation of the piece of land, had been involved in corrupt land deals in the area and were misleading people.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter