TONDERAI SAHARO
Senior politicians linked to Nelson Chamisa’s blue movement outfit last week visited victims of the operation No to Land Barons, who were evicted from state land in Mushandike area of Masvingo Rural.
The visit which was code named solidarity visit was part of the blue movement’s mobilization drive and fact finding mission on the challenges the victims are facing.
The group was led by outspoken politician and former MDC Alliance organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, ex CCC deputy spokesperson, Ostallos Siziba among a host of the movement’s top leadership from Harare and Matebeland provinces.
The team visited a group of about 300 families who were evicted on village 15 B in Mushandike Irrigation Scheme by the courts.
The villagers told harrowing experiences of how they were forced to abandon an area which they had been calling home for nearly two decades.
They believe their eviction is politically motivated as neighbouring villages believe village 15B was an opposition strong hold.
The village falls under a CCC councilor.
“We have no were to go as we speak. We are not sure of what the government is going to do next, although we were allocated this land with the blessings of Chief Charumbira almost 20 years ago.
“We had invested a lot in building structures and some of us were conducting projects which had become a source of our livelihoods, we have nowhere to go with our families and our livestock we are just staying put not knowing what will happen next ” said one of the evicted villagers who has vowed to stay put with the faint hope that government will have a change of heart.
They pleaded for food assistance from the blue movement, as they said they will not be food secure for the next months while others said they are in need of transport to ferry their belongings back to villages of their origin.
Chibaya who led the delegations said the Zanu Pf government had no solution in sight to appease the victims.
“The Zanu PF has no plan whatsoever regarding compensating you, we have been tasked by president Chamisa to come on a fact finding mission to hear your grievances.
“We have heard your concerns and I am confident that once we take back the feedback to the president relevant assistance will be availed,” Chibaya said.
Government at the beginning of the year launched the Operation No to Land barons targeting sprouting resettlement areas in peri urban farms.
The operation has been largely viewed as a political move meant to dilute opposition party support base particularly in resettlement areas, where the ruling Zanu PF’s support base was wanning.
