Esigodini youths cry foul over repossessed farm

26 Apr, 2015 - 00:04 0 Views

The Sunday News

Mncedisi Buhali Sunday News Reporter
YOUTHS in Esigodini are up in arms with their legislator and district officials for repossessing a farm that was allocated to them by Government and offering it to a former diplomat. The 110-hectare Ntshonalanga Farm is now being utilised by former Zimbabwean ambassador to Botswana and Metallon Gold corporate affairs executive Cde Zenzo Nsimbi.

According to the disgruntled youths, Member for the National Assembly for Umzingwane Cde William Dhewa, district administrator Mr Bekithemba Ndlovu and district land officers worked together to repossess the farm and awarded it to Cde Nsimbi.

“The youths had been given the land by the land committee in 2003. It was a good piece of land for youths to engage in different agricultural activities that were going to help them. Suddenly, in early 2013, the officials went behind our backs and gave the land to Cde Nsimbi,” said one of the concerned youths.

Another youth revealed that when Cde Nsimbi occupied the farm, he heard the youths’ complaints and he promised to give them cattle.
“We never saw those cows, but he is just relaxed at the place and he is doing his farming activities, because about 80 hectares of that place is good for farming,” he said.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland South youth chairperson Cde Washington Nkomo confirmed the issue and said the farm was occupied by Cde Nsimbi with no consultation being done.
“It is the truth that that ever since the farm was given to the youths, nothing much was done as they were still planning. There was growing interest from the leaders, and out of the blue, Cde Nsimbi came in, fenced the place and it is now his. No consultations were done,” said Cde Nkomo.

“I actually wrote a letter as the chairperson to the leaders concerning this issue, seeking explanations but there were no replies.”
Cde Nkomo also accused the officials of not being transparent when it comes to the issues of allocation of land.

Contacted for comment, Cde Dhewa said the land was repossessed because it was lying idle.
“Yes, the land belonged to the youths, but what happened is that there was an audit which was done that made us to identify this land which seemed to be lying idle. The land was taken away from them and it was given to Cde Nsimbi. This was done formally while one of their representatives was present. Who is asking about this matter? Why did they come to you rather than coming to us? If they want land, they should apply for it, they will be given,” said Cde Dhewa.

District administrator Mr Ndlovu also said Cde Nsimbi was given the farm using proper channels.
“One of their representatives was present when all this happened. If they have a problem they have to come to our offices,” he said.

Cde Nsimbi also insisted he was given the farm after the youths had deserted it.
“All the proper channels were followed for me to actually get that farm. I went through the lands committee and it was not sold to me but every process was legal. Actually these youths were the ones who deserted the place. When I got it, there were about eight boreholes all of them having been destroyed,” said Cde Nsimbi.

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