The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube and Sandra Tekere Sunday News Reporters
TRADITIONAL leaders in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South Province have courted the ire of villagers for allegedly selling pieces of land for $25, a development which has led to shortage of grazing pastures. Villagers in Mlomoliwoto accused their area leader, village head Eliot Moyo of conniving with Chief Stanley Gwebu to sell land to people who are not from the area. Some of the beneficiaries are said to come from as Botswana and Plumtree.
In an interview with Sunday News, some of the villagers said village head Moyo was charging for the land and pocketing the money.
“I am not speaking from hearsay but from experience. I personally bought land from the village head (Moyo) whom I gave $25. We have been seeing more people coming and being allocated land,” said a villager who declined to be named.
Another villager who only identified himself as Mr Ncube said they have received reports of people buying land from the village head. “It is true that the village head is selling stands although he tells the newcomers not to disclose such information but after staying for sometime, they reveal that they bought the stands for $25,” said Mr Ncube.
Furious villagers said most people who were allocated land were from Botswana, Plumtree and Chivhu while locals were struggling to get land.
“I have been pleading for a stand for my son for the past four years, what pains me is that I see people who are not originally from our village getting stands, which clearly shows that money is at work,” another villager.
Another villager who also declined to be named fearing victimisation said: “If only the money he was getting was being used to develop our schools it could have been better but he uses the money for his own personal gain.”
However, headman Moyo said those who were spreading the “rumours” were his enemies.
“The villagers are only ganging up to bring me down, this is pure hatred and I cannot be voted out as my position is hereditary. I report my work to Chief Stanly Gwebu.
“These people do not know what they are saying, they are the same people who asked us to render land to their children who are now old enough to start their own homes,” said headman Moyo.
Chief Gwebu also refuted the allegations and said as far as he was concerned the people who were given stands were from the village.
“I have heard the grievances of the villagers and I will look into it. As for the close relationship with my village head how can I not work closely with him since he is my eyes and ears,” said the chief.
