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Fortunate Gora Correspondent
Government has given illegal settlers in Zvimba District, Mashonaland West Province, a seven-day ultimatum to vacate. The settlers, who are believed to have connived with senior Government officials to settle themselves on State land, have been given until January 19 to leave. Zvimba District Lands Committee has distributed letters of notice to some squatters, who claim they were ordered to occupy the area by former Finance Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo.

A village head in Zvimba North, Mr Smart Tengeziso, alleged that Dr Chombo settled about 155 people, who were not issued with offer letters along the Great Dyke. Mr Tengeziso said all those people were aliens, who used to work at Rugare and Road Camp Chrome mines, which closed in 2005.

“Chombo relocated all the people who used to work at Rugare and Road Camp Chrome mines, which closed in 2005, to Kilmadough,” he said.

“They are all aliens and they do not have anywhere to go.” Mr Tengeziso said there were also 300 illegal settlers who appealed to some politicians, who included Dr Chombo, to be settled in Mapinga after the closure of the Great Dyke Tobacco Grading Company. It is believed that Dr Chombo promised to regularise their stay, but nothing happened. Some headmen are also being accused of parcelling out State land in the area.