News / National
Matabeleland land grabbed by superior tribes - MP
17 Nov 2016 at 14:30hrs | Views
A member of parliament has claimed that land in Matabeleland region has been parcelled out to superior tribes from other regions.
According to reports from parliament, MDC-T's Anele Ndebele said he is surprised that officially, it is said that 'land distribution is over but everyday we read of new land grabs'.
"Land has been allocated to superior tribes, it's the truth and we have to live with it" he told parliament today.
"Land in Matabeleland has been allocated to people from other places.
"The land commission must be given teeth to look into land waiting list" Ndebele said adding that he made an application for land in 1999 and is still to be allocated.
Ndebele's assertion on land grabs comes amid reports that vice president Phelekezela Mphoko is at odds with villagers at Tshayile area in Bubi, Matabeleland North.
They are facing eviction allegedly to pave way for Mphoko, who reportedly wants to construct his homestead on top of a mountain that lies on their land.
On Tuesday villagers staged a demonstration 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.
According to reports, Mphoko's farm is in Umguza district, while Tshayile Farm is in Bubi and the land in dispute is along the two district's borders.
According to the villagers, Mphoko's plans to expand his property to 2 000 hectares beyond his boundary will see them losing Tshayile Primary School, farming and grazing lands, the sole borehole and nutritional garden funded under the Australian Direct Aid Programme.
According to reports from parliament, MDC-T's Anele Ndebele said he is surprised that officially, it is said that 'land distribution is over but everyday we read of new land grabs'.
"Land has been allocated to superior tribes, it's the truth and we have to live with it" he told parliament today.
"Land in Matabeleland has been allocated to people from other places.
"The land commission must be given teeth to look into land waiting list" Ndebele said adding that he made an application for land in 1999 and is still to be allocated.
Ndebele's assertion on land grabs comes amid reports that vice president Phelekezela Mphoko is at odds with villagers at Tshayile area in Bubi, Matabeleland North.
They are facing eviction allegedly to pave way for Mphoko, who reportedly wants to construct his homestead on top of a mountain that lies on their land.
On Tuesday villagers staged a demonstration 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.
According to reports, Mphoko's farm is in Umguza district, while Tshayile Farm is in Bubi and the land in dispute is along the two district's borders.
According to the villagers, Mphoko's plans to expand his property to 2 000 hectares beyond his boundary will see them losing Tshayile Primary School, farming and grazing lands, the sole borehole and nutritional garden funded under the Australian Direct Aid Programme.
Source - Byo24News
