News / National
Zim Chief drives out 'foreigners'
12 Aug 2012 at 12:04hrs | Views
Nearly 300 families face eviction as a chief intensifies efforts to drive out migrant people he describes as foreigners in Chundu area.
Acting chief Picture Chundu alleges that the "foreigners" corruptly received plots from "unscrupulous" headmen in his area.
"I want to get rid of foreigners from Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique who did not get citizenship as required by the law. Furthermore headmen allocated them land behind my back and I will have them evicted as soon as possible," he told the Daily News on Sunday.
"They are not my subjects, they must move out," he said.
Hurungwe Rural District Council (HRDC) has already issued the villagers with notices of eviction.
"You illegally occupied a piece of land in Chundu Ward 8 without the consent and authority of HRDC in terms of Section 8 (1) of Council Land Act number 20. No permit has been issued to you to occupy the said piece of land. Therefore, you are given notice to vacate the place by July 21, 2012 to August 22, 2012 without any further notice," reads one of the notices to affected villagers.
"The notice advises the villagers to return to their places of origin. You are advised to go back where you have been before you illegally occupied the said pieces of land. Any costs that may be incurred by council on your eviction after refusal shall be borne by you," reads part of the notice.
Four headmen targeted include Chikura, Masawi, Tugwe, and Nyakasikana, all who came into Chundu area in 1936.
"We are surprised with council action as one headman we know has been in the area since 1936 and his subjects were allocated land with the blessing of Chief Chundu's forefathers," said one headman who preferred anonymity.
Documents show that in 1999, council unsuccessfully tried to evict the villagers.
Acting chief Picture Chundu alleges that the "foreigners" corruptly received plots from "unscrupulous" headmen in his area.
"I want to get rid of foreigners from Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique who did not get citizenship as required by the law. Furthermore headmen allocated them land behind my back and I will have them evicted as soon as possible," he told the Daily News on Sunday.
"They are not my subjects, they must move out," he said.
Hurungwe Rural District Council (HRDC) has already issued the villagers with notices of eviction.
"The notice advises the villagers to return to their places of origin. You are advised to go back where you have been before you illegally occupied the said pieces of land. Any costs that may be incurred by council on your eviction after refusal shall be borne by you," reads part of the notice.
Four headmen targeted include Chikura, Masawi, Tugwe, and Nyakasikana, all who came into Chundu area in 1936.
"We are surprised with council action as one headman we know has been in the area since 1936 and his subjects were allocated land with the blessing of Chief Chundu's forefathers," said one headman who preferred anonymity.
Documents show that in 1999, council unsuccessfully tried to evict the villagers.
Source - Daily News
