Zimpapers Logo

George Maponga  at CHINGWIZI, in Mwenezi
Chaos has broken out at Chingwizi holding camp in Mwenezi as it emerged some disgruntled villagers are destroying tents belonging to families that agreed to be resettled at some plots in the Nuanetsi Ranch without compensation.Police patrols have been beefed up at the holding camp to combat acts of terror by criminal elements.

The protesters allegedly descended on their targets at night and threatened them for accepting to move to new plots that stretch for 20 kilometres along the Mbizi railway line.

While the number of tents that were destroyed by the protesters could not be ascertained, two of the suspects have since been arrested after being tracked by the police dog section while the other one was still at large.

Government has completed pegging of 3 020 permanent plots in the Nuanetsi ranch to resettle over 3 000 families displaced by flooding in the Tokwe-Mukosi basin.
However, the majority of the families are resisting resettlement and demanding compensation for their homes and property that were damaged by floods.

Some of the families told The Herald at the weekend that they feared to move to the new plots because of notorious gangs that were targeting families at the new settlements.

“While we might have no problem with going to the new plots to build our homes, we fear criminal gangs from this camp who are opposed to resettlement without compensation. The gangs are violent and attack at night,’’ said a man at the camp who refused to be named for fear of reprisals.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti yesterday confirmed attempts of looting and accused opponents of the programme to resettle Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi for sponsoring rogue elements to disrupt peace at the holding camp.

“We have details of some individuals who are sponsoring some rogue elements to cause unrest at Chingwizi and its true police had to be called to disperse some of the families after they tried to loot food in an attempt to cause mayhem recently.”