Villagers face eviction to pave way for Mphoko homestead?

Villagers at Tshayile area in Bubi, Matabeleland North province face eviction allegedly to pave way for Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, who reportedly wants to construct his homestead on top of a mountain that lies on their land.

A number of villagers staged a demonstration yesterday in Tshayile area, Ward 10 of Bubi constituency, protesting against the plans to grab their land at Shilloh Farm, adjacent to Mphoko's Mdlawuzo Farm.

A portion of Mdlawuzo Mountain lies in Mphoko's Farm, while the remainder falls under Shilloh Farm, where the villagers were resettled in 2000 during the land reform exercise.

Mphoko's farm is in Umguza district, while Tshayile Farm is in Bubi and the land in dispute is along the two districts' borders.