Zanu-PF minister chased away by villagers

Provincial affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti had to take to his heels after angry flood victims currently staying at Chingwizi holding camp this week chased him away. They threw stones at his team and accused him of stalling payment of compensation due to them.

Drama erupted after Bhasikiti visited the camp to persuade villagers to leave the camp and take up plots allocated to them. At least two people were arrested after and police have launched a manhunt for another villager believed to be the ring leader.

The minister allegedly took to his heels with villagers in hot pursuit. His body guards could not contain the situation and had to seek assistance from the police. But this week he denied that he had been attacked and said the villagers wanted to loot food from his entourage.

The villagers displaced from the Tokwe Mukosi basin at the peak of the rainy season now demand compensation before being allocated plots. They also want government to honour its promise of giving them four hectares of land instead of the one hectare it is now offering.

Last week a ministerial delegation led by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo had to leave the camp after the angry villagers refused to bow down to government pressure.