Cyrene High School farm overrun by illegal settlers

Cyrene High School, a historic Anglican Church-run institution in Bulilima District just outside Bulawayo, is facing a growing crisis after illegal settlers invaded its farmland, stripping it of resources and threatening the safety of learners, livestock, and school infrastructure.

The invasion, which began as a minor encroachment in 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic, has escalated into full-scale occupation. The school farm, long a source of self-sustenance through cattle ranching and crop production, has been overrun by settlers who have cleared pastures, felled trees, and vandalised water systems.

The school's deputy headmaster and chaplain, Reverend Mthulisi Mvubu, said the occupation has severely impacted farming operations, leaving the school with a shortage of grazing land and rising livestock losses.

"We had a herd of about 400 cattle, but we've been forced to downscale to 200 because there's simply no grazing land left. The settlers have taken over the paddocks and our livestock now compete with theirs for the little grass that remains," said Rev Mvubu.

Stock theft has become increasingly rampant, and the encroachment has turned the school environment into one of uncertainty and insecurity. Learners and staff reportedly live in fear as incidents of vandalism, stock theft, and suspected drug peddling rise sharply.

"The settlers are so daring that they have drilled boreholes right next to ours and even cut off our water supply to divert it for their livestock. It's a security crisis, and we've had to restrict learner movement and lock certain access points to keep them safe," Rev Mvubu added.

The environmental impact is equally dire. Large portions of grazing land have been cleared for makeshift homesteads, while orchards have been destroyed due to deforestation. The depletion of pastures has forced the school to purchase stock feed, raising operating costs and threatening the sustainability of its agricultural training programmes.

"Cyrene Mission has always been known for its self-sustaining farm and its contribution to agricultural education. Now, that legacy is under serious threat," lamented Rev Mvubu.

Parents are reportedly anxious about their children's safety, leading to declining enrolment. Plans to expand the school into a mixed institution have stalled as land earmarked for girls' dormitories has been occupied by settlers.

Despite engaging the police and other government departments, the situation continues unabated. A recent visit by a Zimpapers news crew confirmed that much of the school's farmland has been taken over, with settlers coming from as far as Harare and even the diaspora, some allegedly acquiring land illegally through unscrupulous middlemen.

The crisis at Cyrene High School highlights the growing challenge of illegal land occupation in Zimbabwe and its impact on educational institutions, livelihoods, and community safety.