The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SOME beneficiaries of houses in ARDA Transau who were relocated from the Chiadzwa diamond mining area are selling their properties for a song as they opt to return to the mineral rich area to resume illegal artisanal mining activities.
ARDA Transau is a Government-owned farm that is under the Mutare City Council’s Master Plan for the city’s expansion.
A total of 1 008 houses sitting on one-hectare pieces of land were constructed in the area by Anjin, Mbada, Marange Resources and Diamond Mining Company.
The four companies used to operate in Chiadzwa before Government moved in to sanitise diamond mining in the area.
Villagers were relocated to ARDA Transau in 2009 to pave way for organised diamond mining by Government and its partners.
A survey conducted by The Manica Post this week revealed that a good number of villagers who were relocated from Chiadzwa either sold or are renting out their properties.
However, some development oriented villagers have made significant social and economic progress on their homesteads since their relocation to the area.
Mutare District Development Coordinator, Mr Wilson Bore said Government is against the sale of properties allocated to relocated people.
“In terms of the legal formalities of the ownership of the pieces of land in ARDA Transau, we are still waiting for the transfer of land from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
“The City of Mutare has a draft plan for its expansion and ARDA Transau falls under that jurisdiction.
“Once that is done, the people there will have access to title deeds. We have been advising people not to sell their pieces of land and houses. It is unfortunate that we have people selling the properties. As the Local Government Ministry, we do not encourage that.
“As a country we are urbanising and this area is about 20km from the City of Mutare. What is obvious is that this area will develop immensely in a few years to come. Selling the properties is an ill-advised move,” said Mr Bore.
Royal Chiadzwa Trust trustee, Mr Mathew Mundondo said: “Those houses are not supposed to be sold because at the end of the day it will give us a bad image when the same people become destitute. We pleaded for these decent houses to be built.
“This problem of people selling their properties in ARDA Transau has been going on for quite some time now. Someone who happens to be a community leader from Chiadzwa (name withheld) sold his property some time back and returned to Chiadzwa. Some villagers followed suit. Sadly they are disposing the properties for peanuts.
“That issue must be investigated thoroughly. We feel that the DDC’s office should do more on this issue. The properties in ARDA Transau are so valuable to the families there. For the sake of one’s future and their family, selling the property is a big mistake they will live to regret,” said Mr Mundondo.
Headman Ringisai Betera, who is presiding over the area’s traditional leadership said: “It is sad that some people choose destitution over a decent lifestyle. If we look at where we came from compared to what was given to us here, you feel sorry for anyone selling their property.
“On my one-hectare piece of land, together with the field I managed to secure nearby, I am expecting to harvest more than 12 tonnes of maize. I have cattle and I also breed guinea fowls. I am send my kids to school without any challenges.
“Last year I had two children in university, but all their welfare and tuition fees came from my family’s agricultural activities here. I am not the only one here doing well through hard work. This is why I feel sorry for those selling their land,” said Headman Betera.
