| INGEZI COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY STATEMENT In Solidarity with People of Ingezi in Defending Community Land Against Business Interests 06 OCTOBER 2023 |
| Kadoma City Council Implicated in Community Land Grab The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) is greatly disturbed by the reports that Kadoma City Council is conniving with one Father Flowers, a Kadoma-based businessman with connections to the ruling ZANU PF party, to grab community land that has served the Ingezi community since 1954. Father Flowers wants to convert the land for his own business use. ZimRights stands in solidarity with the Ingezi Community in condemning this unwarranted land grab which is a sign of the growing disregard for the rights of the community. Background Sometime in 2022, the Ingezi Sports Community heard rumours that the Kadoma City Council had sold Ingezi Grounds, also locally known as Chibuku Grounds, to a local businessman known in the area as Father Flowers. Ingezi Grounds is in Ward 1, Muzvezve Constituency in Kadoma, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. The Ingezi Grounds have been a home for community activities, sports tournaments, and other recreational activities since 1954. The grounds are used for soccer, handball, netball, volleyball, and athletics. It is the host ground for Muzvezve Constituency tournaments, school games, soccer division 2 clubs, among many other community gatherings. Over 13 000 community members benefit from this social facility. The current Member of Parliament (MP) for Muzvezve Constituency is Hon. Vago Harritatoes of ZANU PF. The Councilor for Ward 1 which houses the grounds is Mr. James Maluso of the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC). The Mayor for the City of Kadoma is Mr. Nigel Razario of CCC. The composition of these duty bearers shows that this is an issue that cuts across both political parties that committed to represent the community in the just ended elections and endorsed the People’s Human Rights Manifesto. In the quest for clarity from their duty-bearers, in 2022, the community leadership approached the previous Mayor of Kadoma, His Worship Nyamukondiwa who denied any knowledge of the sale of the grounds. The community also approached the previous Councilor for Ward 1, Mr. Luke Phiri who stated that a resolution for the sale of the grounds had been rejected by the council. |
