The Sunday News
Lungile Tshuma
MORE than 2 300 villagers who bought land in Insiza North Constituency have been told to vacate the area with immediate effect and report the people from whom they bought the land, Sunday News can reveal.
Government recently set up a team to investigate the land scandal involving ousted Zanu-PF Matabeleland South chairman Cde Andrew Langa and secretary for lands Cde Jabulani Phetshu-Sibanda who allegedly created unregistered villages and imposed 17 village heads who illegally sold land for between $600 and $1 000 or for a single beast.
Speaking during a meeting held at Jama village on Wednesday, Insiza district council chairperson Councillor Daniel Mpofu said people should start vacating the area “because we do not want to use a caterpillar (bulldozer) to destroy people’s houses”.
“I am speaking here putting on the shoes of Minister Abedinico Ncube. We were with the minister and we resolved that this matter has to come to an end. Those who bought land should come forward and report the matter to the police so that when there is a piece of land for resettlement, we can settle you there. We have to be merciful and assist you, provided you come forward,” said Clr Mpofu, who is heading a team which is investigating the land scandal.
“I want to emphasise that those who bought stands will have to vacate because the carrying capacity of this place has been exceeded. We do not want to use a caterpillar to destroy houses but it will be good if people start leaving and stop putting up new structures.”
Insiza district lands officer Mr Mackains Dube said his office settled 1 054 people while 2 332 were illegally settled. Four non-existent villages, he said, were created for 722 families.
Insiza district administrator Mrs Sithandiwe Ndumo-Ncube underscored the need for people to stop putting up new structures. She said the district would try its best to ensure that people were settled somewhere.
Said Mrs Ndumo-Ncube: “We are trying to solve this matter. You created this problem and you should allow us to solve it in a manner that is best for both parties. As from today, no one should build a house or put up any structure.
You should be policing each other and ensure that no one puts up a new structure.”
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South province secretary for lands Cde Esau Moyo told villagers that the revolutionary party brought independence so that people enjoy the fruits of the struggle where land is going to be given for free and not sold.
“We are here to solve the matter. What is disgusting is that instead of reporting the matter some of you are busy protecting people who bought land. People who are going to stay here are those who were legally settled.
“For you land buyers, you must know that you have no home here and as we leave today, be ready to leave anytime. Land is not supposed to be sold. We are also aware that there are some high ranking officials who were settled here as a cover-up for other disgusting acts, they too will go.”
War veteran Cde Molly Mpofu castigated people who had planned to assault Chief Jahana. She said people should not be used by criminals but they should expose criminals.
“We came here in the morning and we were told that there were people who were hired by some village to beat up the chief. This is embarrassing. The chief is the head of the village and any person who dares touch him would have insulted President Mugabe,” she said.
The area chief, Chief Jahana maintained that he was disappointed and the lands committee was now under pressure to ensure that those who bought land could be given a piece of land. He said most people bought land not knowing that they were being duped of their hard-earned cash.
“It is very sad. I am still disappointed and ashamed of what you did. How can the carrying capacity double? Some of you wanted to assault me and I must warn you that nothing will happen to me. If you can’t stay in this area, can you kindly vacate in peace,” said Chief Jahana.
Among the people fingered in the land scandal, Clifford Machona and Edith Gumbo, who is Zanu PF ward 22 councillor, have already appeared in court facing fraud charges.
This latest land allocation scandal comes just a couple of months after Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Joel Biggie Matiza threatened to expel 20 village heads from Seke implicated in illegal allocation of over 5 000 stands.
