The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Correspondent
RESETTLED Chiadzwa villagers are entangled in a bitter court battle with neighbouring villagers over farming land in Matendera area of Arda Transau.
The angry villagers from both sides appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato last week on Thursday.
The resettled villagers, represented by Messrs Prayer Chikumura and Lovemore Magigwana, claimed that the land belongs to Jinan and Anjin Mining Company.
On the other hand, Messrs Phillip Mukucha and Kudakwashe Mafiyo representing Matendera villagers, claimed that the land belongs to them.
The Chiadzwa villagers were resettled by Government at Arda Transau in Odzi to pave way for diamond mining.
Jinan and Anjin then built houses and other amenities for the villagers.
But Mr Mukucha argued that the resettled villagers have overlapped from the land they were allocated by Government to Matendera communal land, thereby disadvantaging the Matendera villagers.
“Instead of farming on their allocated land, most of the resettled farmers have for years been encroaching onto our communal lands. They claim that Government gave them rights to the land but we were allocated these pieces of land by our village head,” explained Mr Mukucha.
However, Mr Chikumura insisted that they were occupying Jinan’s land, adding that they have every right to be there.
He, however, confirmed that the land was not allocated to them for farming.
“It is common knowledge that we were relocated from Chiadzwa by Government and Jinan. When we were resettled at Arda Transau and were allocated small pieces of land for farming. The land is not enough, hence the encroachment to the area that Jinana is constructing houses for more relocated villagers.
“Jinan security guards allowed us to farm on the land and the fact that we are farming around foundations of incomplete houses is evidence that this is Jinan’s land. It is not communal land, but private property,” said Mr Chikumura.
Mr Magigwana shared the same sentiments.
“When we were resettled at Arda Transau, we were never introduced to any village head. We were told that the area is private property and a resettlement area. The so-called Village head Matendera cannot tell us what to do because we were told that in the event of disputes, the police at Odzi Police Station or the courts will settle them,” said Mr Magigwana.
Mr Chipato asked both parties for evidence that proves that the said land belongs to any of them.
The Matendera villagers presented two letters of confirmation written by Chief Zimunya and Village head Matendera.
The letters stated that the land in question is communal.
No evidence was presented by the other party.
Mr Chipato reserved judgement to February 16.
