The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
THE Government is set to evict about 10 000 illegal settlers in Masvingo amid reports that 1 000 villagers at Muzaro Farm’s Sikato area have vowed to stay put despite being served with notices of eviction.
Masvingo District Administrator Mr Roy Hove said no one was supposed to settle on land that had not been reserved for resettlement. Last month, about 1 000 villagers settled at Muzaro Farm in Sikato area were served with eviction notices, giving them seven days to leave the area. The affected families have argued that they had regularised their stay on the land and had built permanent structures.
“Close to 10 000 families in Masvingo District face eviction and most of them have received notices to that effect, as we speak,” said Mr Hove.
He said the Government through Lands, Agriculture, Climate, Water and Rural Resettlement Ministry has issued illegal settlers at Bhati and Stevens business centres, along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, with notices and were expected to leave the places immediately.
“After we served those settled in Sikato, Government has also issued the same notices to villagers at Bhati and Steven farms.
“I think close to 10 000 illegal settlers are going to be evicted as Government moves to bring sanity. We are not chasing away people. We should be mindful of the fact that we want to bring sanity by stopping invasions. Some of these farms are not meant for resettlement,” he said.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the Government would look for alternative land where evicted families would be resettled.
“We have similar programme in Chiredzi and other remaining districts will also be affected. We expect to look for alternative land to settle those affected but the affected families should go to their original places while Government is looking for land,” he said.
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