Villagers resist Mahofa plan

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MORE than 18,000 villagers settled at Chingwizi in Mwenezi are resisting Masvingo Provincial Minister Shuvai Mahofa’s plans to relocate them to Chiumburu Farm in Chiredzi.

Settlers who spoke to Chronicle yesterday expressed concern at government plans to move them to another place where they would scrounge for resources like water and other social amenities.

Addressing Zanu-PF supporters recently during a music gala to celebrate her recent appointment, Cde Mahofa said the government would soon relocate the villagers from Chingwizi where they are occupying one hectare plots to Chiumburu Farm where they would be allocated five hectares per family.

She said the new area that was identified for the families was big.

However, villagers are now saying although the allocated pieces of land at Chingwizi are too small considering the initial promises made by Cde Mahofa’s predecessor, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, they had already accepted their fate.

A village head Samuel Tsikisai said it is not fair for settlers to be moved again when most people had already set up base and their children were attending school.

“It’s hard to be treated like nomads every time. We were moved from Chivi because of the Tokwe-Mukorsi floods in February 2013 and we don’t blame anyone because it was a natural disaster. We’re getting used to this place and the small pieces of land that we were allocated,” said Tsikisai.

Another villager Raina Moyo said government should compensate them first before they accept the second relocation.

“We were moved because of circumstances from our original homes in Chivi and settled here. A year has elapsed but we haven’t been compensated yet they expect us to move to Chiredzi again. We aren’t going anywhere unless we receive compensation,” said Moyo.

To date government has disbursed $2 million out of the estimated $9 million for compensation.

Only a quarter of the affected families have received amounts ranging from $600 to $15,000 depending on the developments made on their original homes at the time of evacuation.