News / National
Lt General Philip Valerio Sibanda warns illegal settlers
11 Dec 2013 at 02:46hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE National Army Commander, Lieutenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda has warned illegal settlers against invading army training and shooting ranges.
Lt General Sibanda's warning came in the wake of land invaders who illegally occupied Katanga Army Training Range in the Midlands province.
In an interview on the sidelines of ZNA national launch of tree planting season at Five Brigade Ngezi Barracks in Kwekwe, Lt Gen Sibanda said Government must immediately evict all illegal settlers who invaded army training ranges.
"It's unfortunate that authorities responsible for resettling people did not take into cognisance of the real dangers of occupying such areas considering that Katanga range is a bombing area. The dangers are the explosives that might remain behind after training and these can cause death.
"It is not at all advisable to resettle people into army training ranges. People must understand that army ranges are for the training of the military for security services.
"If they invade and occupy the range, where do we train in order to be able to protect and defend our country?" he queried.
Lt General Sibanda said people must not consider short term benefits but should put the interest of the nation first.
He said Government should immediately evict people occupying army training ranges.
"We are supportive of the land reform programme. However, the ministry of Land and Rural Resettlement must find an alternative piece of land to relocate those people because their lives are in danger. There are no negotiations to take place regarding to that. We cannot allow people to just occupy army training ranges. If these people were relocated by responsible authorities, it means the proper procedures were not followed," he said.
Minister of Land and Rural Resettlement Douglas Mombeshora recently ordered the eviction of illegal settlers who had invaded army training ranges.
Speaking during the occasion, Lt General Sibanda said ZNA was targeting more than five million trees to be planted by the year 2015.
"We have already planted 100 000 trees all over the country. We are targeting five million trees by 2015. We would also want to urge our communities to plant indigenous trees because they can easily adapt to our climatic conditions," he said.
Lt General Sibanda's warning came in the wake of land invaders who illegally occupied Katanga Army Training Range in the Midlands province.
In an interview on the sidelines of ZNA national launch of tree planting season at Five Brigade Ngezi Barracks in Kwekwe, Lt Gen Sibanda said Government must immediately evict all illegal settlers who invaded army training ranges.
"It's unfortunate that authorities responsible for resettling people did not take into cognisance of the real dangers of occupying such areas considering that Katanga range is a bombing area. The dangers are the explosives that might remain behind after training and these can cause death.
"It is not at all advisable to resettle people into army training ranges. People must understand that army ranges are for the training of the military for security services.
"If they invade and occupy the range, where do we train in order to be able to protect and defend our country?" he queried.
He said Government should immediately evict people occupying army training ranges.
"We are supportive of the land reform programme. However, the ministry of Land and Rural Resettlement must find an alternative piece of land to relocate those people because their lives are in danger. There are no negotiations to take place regarding to that. We cannot allow people to just occupy army training ranges. If these people were relocated by responsible authorities, it means the proper procedures were not followed," he said.
Minister of Land and Rural Resettlement Douglas Mombeshora recently ordered the eviction of illegal settlers who had invaded army training ranges.
Speaking during the occasion, Lt General Sibanda said ZNA was targeting more than five million trees to be planted by the year 2015.
"We have already planted 100 000 trees all over the country. We are targeting five million trees by 2015. We would also want to urge our communities to plant indigenous trees because they can easily adapt to our climatic conditions," he said.
Source - herald
