The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
MORE than 7 000 illegal settlers in several districts in Manicaland face eviction as the move to bring sanity and order to the land reform programme intensifies.According to a provincial land committee report presented at last Sunday’s extra-ordinary special Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting held at Mutare Polytechnic, the illegal settlers have congested old resettlements, farms and plantations.
The report revealed that there are more than 1 077 illegal settlers in Chimanimani, while in Nyanga there are more than 2 000. Makoni and Mutare districts have 1 500 and 1 142 illegal settlers respectively, while there are more than 2 289 illegal settlers in Mutasa District.
Acting director in the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, Mrs Kundai Makuku, said the national land inspectorate’s taskforce decided to meet Zanu-PF provincial leadership so that they work in unison to address the critical issue of illegal settlers who have sprouted across Manicaland.
Among those who were defined as illegal settlers are former farm workers, politicians and traditional leaders among other individuals who do not have lawful authority (such as permit, offer letters or 99-year lease) to own a piece of land.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Deputy Commissioner-General, Godwin Matanga, said the eviction of illegal settlers was meant to bring sanity to the land reform programme.
He implored politicians and traditional leaders to unite and play a complementary role to address the problem.
“Command agriculture will not succeed if this challenge is allowed to persist. Traditional leaders and politicians have been found wanting in resettling people on undesignated places. We need to work in unison to bring back sanity to the land reform programme,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, said instead of being exemplary, some politicians were responsible for fuelling illegal settlements.
“Squatter have now become a menace and it is unfortunate that some politicians are to blame. After the land invasions, I was surprised to note that some of the people who played a critical role in repossessing our land were still homeless and did not have any piece of land of their own. It is sad.
“Those who participated in the land invasions should be accorded pieces of land. We believe the process will run smoothly,” said Cde Chimene.
