Matebeleland war vets bear brunt of evictions

War veterans across Matebeleland are raising alarm over alleged land grabbing and intimidation by corrupt officials in the Lands Ministry, with some facing eviction and others reporting that their plots have been downsized to benefit relatives and cronies.

The veterans, who were lawfully allocated land under the fast-track land reform programme in 2000, have appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and stop the alleged malpractice. Court papers and testimonies highlight growing tensions between long-settled beneficiaries and new claimants, with accusations of corruption, harassment, and disregard for due process.

At the centre of one dispute is Helenvale B, Plot 6 in Umguza, where veteran Andrew Ndlovu, acting on behalf of landholder Belinda Ndlovu through a general power of attorney, is contesting claims by the family of the late Gift House over an alleged "Plot 10," which he maintains never existed. "Helenvale B Block had only nine plots allocated in 2001 under the A1 model. There was never a Plot 10. Someone is trying to downsize Belinda Ndlovu's land clandestinely," he said. In August 2025, the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court struck off a case brought by Gift House's sister, ruling that the matter could only be determined once the Zimbabwe Land Commission (ZLC) issues a written determination on the boundary dispute.

Ndlovu also obtained an interdict earlier this year barring members of the House family from harassing him, vandalising his fence, or threatening violence. He said the issue is symptomatic of a wider problem, pointing fingers at Lands Ministry officials at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex. "They are downsizing farms without owners' knowledge, issuing fresh offer letters, and backing the new beneficiaries in disputes. Most of these cases involve bribery. Old beneficiaries who developed their farms since 2000 are being pushed out," he said, calling for an overhaul of the ministry in Bulawayo.

Other veterans echoed similar concerns. At Joes'luk Farm in Umguza, former Zanu-PF councillor and ex-Zipra fighter Priscilla Sithole, 70, reported that part of her land had been taken by a family claiming backing from the ministry. "They built houses and drew water from my dam. The man who took my land said he will make me disappear," she said, describing how she feels unsafe and targeted. Sithole, a single mother and war veteran, said widows of fallen fighters are particularly vulnerable. "We are being victimised as women war vets. While I was away for medical treatment, my plot was cut off. Their cattle destroy my property," she added.

Similar cases have emerged at Klipspring Farm, where plots have allegedly been pegged out of existence or shifted across district boundaries. "We got this land in 2000 through DDF allocations. But in the last three years, new pegs have appeared, and comrades are losing land. Widows and children of late war vets are the most affected," one veteran said.

The Zimbabwe Land Commission is under pressure to expedite investigations and issue binding rulings, as veterans argue that corruption in land administration is undermining the spirit of the 2000 land reform programme, which aimed to address colonial-era land imbalances. Ndlovu and others have appealed to the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the matter and called for a dedicated war veteran representative in Lands offices to protect their constitutional rights.

"We fought for this land. The constitution recognises veterans of the liberation struggle, but now we are being evicted by corruption. We want our 20% land quota to be enforced and respected," Ndlovu said. Many elderly and widowed beneficiaries fear losing the only inheritance they fought for a quarter-century ago, as they continue to contest eviction attempts.