…villagers query July Moyo’s ‘questionable’ interest in project
Beatific
Gumbwanda
Chiredzi Rural District Council
(CRDC) chairperson, Edward Matsilele was recently chased away by enraged
Chilonga villagers after he visited their area for an audience with their
leaders over the envisaged multi-million dollar lucerne grass project which is
likely to displace more than 1 000 villagers from their traditional homes,
TellZim News can report.
(CRDC) chairperson, Edward Matsilele was recently chased away by enraged
Chilonga villagers after he visited their area for an audience with their
leaders over the envisaged multi-million dollar lucerne grass project which is
likely to displace more than 1 000 villagers from their traditional homes,
TellZim News can report.
Dendairy, a private milk producer
wants more than 10 000 hectares of arable land for the grass farming project in
the area which lies south of Runde River in Chiredzi East and South
constituencies.
wants more than 10 000 hectares of arable land for the grass farming project in
the area which lies south of Runde River in Chiredzi East and South
constituencies.
Villagers are resisting
government plans to relocate them from the land of their forefathers, fearing
they might meet the same fate as of more than 3 000 fellow villagers displaced
in 2014 during construction of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam and dumped in the arid Chingwizi
with no basic amenities.
government plans to relocate them from the land of their forefathers, fearing
they might meet the same fate as of more than 3 000 fellow villagers displaced
in 2014 during construction of Tugwi-Mukosi Dam and dumped in the arid Chingwizi
with no basic amenities.
A few years ago, hundreds of families
were displaced to pave way for a bio-energy company Green Fuel to grow
sugarcane and set-up an ethanol plant in the Chisumbanje area of the
neighbouring Chipinge district
were displaced to pave way for a bio-energy company Green Fuel to grow
sugarcane and set-up an ethanol plant in the Chisumbanje area of the
neighbouring Chipinge district
This week, Matsilele visited Chilonga
with a heavy accompaniment of State security agents in a bid to discuss a more
amicable way forward.
with a heavy accompaniment of State security agents in a bid to discuss a more
amicable way forward.
He however failed to address the
meeting as he was chased away from the meeting venue by furious villagers who
demanded to meet the District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema.
meeting as he was chased away from the meeting venue by furious villagers who
demanded to meet the District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema.
Matsilele later told TellZim News
that he failed to convene the meeting as several villagers turned up for a
meeting he said was meant only for their leaders.
that he failed to convene the meeting as several villagers turned up for a
meeting he said was meant only for their leaders.
“I failed to convene the meeting
because there were too many people. I only wanted to meet village heads and
councillors only,” said Matsilele.
because there were too many people. I only wanted to meet village heads and
councillors only,” said Matsilele.
Ward Councillor Hardlife Tiisa
said villagers were unhappy with Matsilele whom they felt was biased against
their interests and was working to force them to accept the project.
said villagers were unhappy with Matsilele whom they felt was biased against
their interests and was working to force them to accept the project.
“Villagers are very angry and
disappointed. They don’t even want to hear about this project and they complain
that they are being victimised on the basis of tribalism.
disappointed. They don’t even want to hear about this project and they complain
that they are being victimised on the basis of tribalism.
“There is abundant irrigable land in Chiredzi
so we wonder why risk a conflict with people by targeting the land where they
are settled,” said Tiisa.
so we wonder why risk a conflict with people by targeting the land where they
are settled,” said Tiisa.
Villagers say it surprises them
that the project was being pushed hardest not by the most relevant ministries;
Agriculture and Industry, but by July Moyo who is the Minister of Local
Government.
that the project was being pushed hardest not by the most relevant ministries;
Agriculture and Industry, but by July Moyo who is the Minister of Local
Government.
Moyo last month visited Chiredzi to
force village heads and councillors to welcome the project. The private media
journalists were ejected from the meeting which was held at council offices in
Chiredzi town.
force village heads and councillors to welcome the project. The private media
journalists were ejected from the meeting which was held at council offices in
Chiredzi town.
