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Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau
A land dispute is raging at two farms in the Chakari area of Sanyati District where about 500 illegally settled families are being forced to vacate and make way for others. This comes amid allegations of bribery by the settlers, who are accusing certain individuals riding on the name of the ruling party Zanu-PF of trying to push them out.

The families have been settled at Deresia and Tekois farms for the past 15 years, and authorities have been trying to regularise their stay. Land barons, who have been parcelling out plots from the State land are resisting the move. District lands committee chairperson Mr Amigo Mhlanga said the committee had agreed to regularise the occupation of the land.

“We agreed as the lands committee in Sanyati District to regularise their occupation because these people have been at the farm for the past 15 years. There has, however, been some resistance from certain quarters who do not agree with the move, saying they have other people they want to occupy the land,” he said.

The illegal settlers allegedly paid up to $1 000 to move to the farms from around 2004 and have been paying $5 instalments. Mr Mhlanga said they are going to recommend to Government to regularise their occupation. The people have not been paying anything to council.

Others had up to 20 hectares and there are moves to reduce the farm sizes so that all the people get at least 5ha. Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Webster Shamu said Government’s priority in the province was to address land disputes so that they did not affect production on the farms.