The Sunday News
Chakanyuka, Sunday News Reporter
ZANU-PF Member of the National Assembly for Matobo South constituency Cde Soul Mahalima Ncube has allegedly formed an “unholy alliance” with MDC-T Senator for Matobo Sithembile Mlotshwa and some NGOs in the area in a bid to block the expansion project at Arda Trek Antelope Estate.
Arda Trek Antelope Estate has embarked on expansion drive which will see an additional 400 hectares being added by end of next month, to bring to 950 the estate’s total hectarage under irrigation.
Some villagers from Zwehamba, which borders with Arda Trek Antelope Estate who had over the past years allocated themselves pieces of land in the estate for agricultural purposes have lost the land as the estate moved to reclaim its property.
The villagers have been contesting the expansion project, allegedly at the behest of the two legislators, arguing that the Estate was illegally grabbing their land.
Cde Ncube and Sen Mlotshwa are alleged to have allegedly separately mobilised villagers to demonstrate against the move. In the past weeks police in Matobo District foiled demonstrations organised by Sen Mlotshwa, while Cde Ncube reportedly visited Arda Trek Antelope Estate two weeks ago and ordered management to stop the expansion project.
The latest demonstration organised by Sen Mlotshwa was on Friday last week which saw her and 25 villagers being arrested for participating in a conduct likely to provoke breach of peace, bigotry and public violence. Sen Mlotshwa and her co-accused appeared before Mr Lungile Ncube at Kezi Magistrate’s Court and were remanded to 19 October on free bail.
The Matabeleland South provincial Joint Operations Command (JOC) convened an emergency meeting on Friday last week at Maphisa Growth Point where Cde Ncube was reportedly grilled over his involvement in attempts to block the expansion project.
Sources who attended the meeting told Sunday News that Cde Ncube was asked to explain why he was instigating villagers to resist the expansion project.
“At first he vehemently denied the allegations but after some serious grilling and questioning he gave in and ended up apologising. He conceded that he had been misinformed with regards to the ownership of the land and such his actions were based on that misinformation. He apologised and pledged to support the expansion project now that he was clear that the land belonged to Arda Trek Antelope Estate,” said the source.
Contacted for comment, Cde Ncube confirmed the accusations against him but flatly denied the allegations. He said he was in full support of the expansion project as it was one of the deliverables of Zanu-PF’s 2013 election campaign.
“No it’s not true. I have never been against the expansion project. Arda are expanding within their boundaries and are not encroaching into the villagers land. I’m aware of those accusations against me but they are not true. That is why I brought my leadership to come and get a full picture of what is transpiring on the ground. I’ve had heated exchange of words with some officials here on that matter but the truth is that I’m not mobilising anyone against Arda,” he said.
Speaking after the JOC meeting the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland South, Cde Abedinigo Ncube blasted the “few individuals” for attempting to sabotage Government efforts to enhance food security in the country.
“Those were just a few individuals. I think about three people not many and it’s not their land, the land belongs to Government. Of course we understand that some members of the opposition were intending to carry out some demonstrations, we won’t accept that stupidity. As far as we are concerned as Government, we need to produce food for our citizens. Mahalima (Ncube) is not involved, it’s actually those from the opposition. We and Mahalima are together to make sure that the irrigation is expanded, so that there will be more production,” he said.
Arda Trek Antelope Estate manager Mr Alec Chinyai said Arda was expanding within their boundary contrary to claims by villagers that the estate was expanding into their property. Mr Chinyai said about 150 villagers who had allocated themselves pieces of land in the estate were affected by the expansion project.
“The Arda project was pegged in 1947 and people could have forgotten because the land was lying idle for a long time.
Villagers allocated land among themselves because it was idle and that is the land we are reclaiming now. When the project started 150 hectares were cleared between 1949 and 1950. A further 230 hectares were cleared between 1971 and 1972. A further 150 hectares were cleared in 1984. There is still 2 000 hectares of untapped land which we intend to clear in future, subject to availability of funds,” he said.
The Government owned Arda Estate entered into a Private Public Partnership with Trek in a deal meant to revive the estate and increase productivity.
