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George Maponga  in Masvingo
Hundreds of villagers in Zaka who illegally settled on land earmarked for the expansion of Jerera Growth Point now face eviction after council served them with three months eviction notices.Zaka district administrator Mr Tapison Chivanga yesterday said village heads around the growth point like Musiso, Bare and Manyimo were illegally selling land gazetted for the expansion of Jerera Growth Point.

He said council would demolish the homes. “There is very high demand for land at Jerera such that land for new housing development has run out and a large number of people want commercial and industrial stands but cannot get them because of shortage of land,” he said.

“Council gave villagers staying within the Jerera Growth Point area final notices to vacate and those who defy will have their property demolished.’’ Some of the village heads around the sprawling growth point were reportedly selling land to desperate land seekers for between US$300 and US$400 dollars.

“Of course some village heads around Jerera will be arrested because the law is very clear that it is illegal to sell state land.  Those who bought land will have to recover their money and look for land elsewhere or apply for urban land from council,’’ said Mr Chivanga.