Zanu-PF MP mobilise villagers to demonstrate against Arda

ZANU-PF Member of the National Assembly for Matobo South constituency Soul Mahalima Ncube has allegedly formed an "unholy alliance" with MDC-T Senator for Matobo Sithembile Mlotshwa and some NGOs in the area in a bid to block the expansion project at Arda Trek Antelope Estate.

Arda Trek Antelope Estate has embarked on expansion drive which will see an additional 400 hectares being added by end of next month, to bring to 950 the estate's total hectarage under irrigation.

Some villagers from Zwehamba, which borders with Arda Trek Antelope Estate who had over the past years allocated themselves pieces of land in the estate for agricultural purposes have lost the land as the estate moved to reclaim its property.

The villagers have been contesting the expansion project, allegedly at the behest of the two legislators, arguing that the Estate was illegally grabbing their land.

Ncube and Sen Mlotshwa are alleged to have allegedly separately mobilised villagers to demonstrate against the move. In the past weeks police in Matobo District foiled demonstrations organised by Sen Mlotshwa, while Ncube reportedly visited Arda Trek Antelope Estate two weeks ago and ordered management to stop the expansion project.

The latest demonstration organised by Sen Mlotshwa was on Friday last week which saw her and 25 villagers being arrested for participating in a conduct likely to provoke breach of peace, bigotry and public violence. Sen Mlotshwa and her co-accused appeared before Mr Lungile Ncube at Kezi Magistrate's Court and were remanded to 19 October on free bail.

The Matabeleland South provincial Joint Operations Command (JOC) convened an emergency meeting on Friday last week at Maphisa Growth Point where Cde Ncube was reportedly grilled over his involvement in attempts to block the expansion project.

Sources who attended the meeting told Sunday News that Ncube was asked to explain why he was instigating villagers to resist the expansion project.

Contacted for comment, Ncube confirmed the accusations against him but flatly denied the allegations. He said he was in full support of the expansion project as it was one of the deliverables of Zanu-PF's 2013 election campaign.