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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Mberengwa Rural District Council and the Gorongwe community have agreed to resolve their conflict over the expansion of Mataga Growth Point that has derailed socio-economic development in the area for the past 19 years.

The positive development comes after the two warring parties recently signed a memorandum of agreement that will see the Gorongwe community relocating to an identified land paving way for council to kick-start the expansion of the growth point.

The Gorongwe community has been occupying land adjacent to Mataga Growth Point (Mataga-Ngungumbane Road to the south and Mutorahuku stream to the west).

The MoU between council and the community was reached following the intervention of a local non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT).

Mberengwa RDC and Gorongwe community adopted guidelines and recommendations for compensation of local communities displaced by growth point expansion and rural development projects.

The guidelines and recommendations, which were produced by a Midlands Working Group comprising representatives from the Government and the eight rural district councils in the province, was supported by CCMT.

Addressing the Mberengwa RDC planning committee meeting on Friday last week, chairperson Councillor Milo Zhou welcomed the signing of the MoU, which he said will pave way for development of their district.

“What we want to see is development of our area because that will also result in the uplifting of the people’s livelihoods. Council is committed to seeing the success of this MoU,” said Cllr Zhou.

Council planning officer Mr Percy Mwedzi said for 19 years Mataga Growth Point had failed to expand and develop because of the squabbles between his council and Gorongwe community.

“Council could not subdivide Gorongwe community land since the villagers were refusing to relocate and 19 years were wasted. If development had started then, Mataga Growth Point could have been more developed than other growth points in the country,” he said.

The Gorongwe community representative, Mr Samuel Nkomo, said the impasse had also negatively affected the villagers who were living in perpetual fear of eviction.

“We were not even attending to the fields because we were afraid our efforts would go to waste if we were evicted. But we are happy CCMT brought us together and we will be compensated as we also pave way for the expansion of our growth point,” he said.

Mr Nkomo said council had agreed to compensate them in the form of residential stands, an irrigation scheme and a flea market stand.

“Council agreed to compensate us for relocating to another area after the intervention of CCMT,” he said.

“For 19 years we have been at each other’s throats, which is unfortunate because no party won.

“We only lagged behind collectively as Mberengwa people. Now it’s time to work together for the development of our area.”

District Administrator Mr Stewart Chiwanga said the guidelines and recommendations for the compensation of local communities displaced by growth point expansion and rural development projects should be commended and adopted by rural district councils as guidelines in solving such disputes which derail development.

“We welcome the end of the impasse and we look forward to the socio-economic development of Mberengwa District,” he said.