Over 700 war veterans, Zanu-PF supporters stranded

More than 700 war veterans and Zanu-PF supporters are left stranded at Clipsham Farm in Masvingo after their 1 167.020-hectare land was seized by land barons linked to powerful politicians, with the government failing to provide alternative allocations.

The affected group, who hold offer letters for 1.5-hectare plots issued in 2021 and have farmed the land for the past 24 years, were only verbally informed of their eviction on June 21, 2024. Soon after, development machinery was seen ploughing through their fields to construct roads and residential infrastructure.

"We have offer letters. We were told we would be evicted forcefully if necessary and promised alternative land, but up to now, we haven't heard anything. Our plots are pegged out into residential stands, and the rain season is running out," said one farmer, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Attempts to resist eviction were met with police dogs and heavily armed riot police on horseback, leaving the war veterans helpless as their 1.5-hectare plots were converted into residential stands for elite beneficiaries.

Four weeks ago, the veterans were shocked to see an estate agent advertising the residential plots. Efforts to contact Minister of State for Masvingo and Land Commission chairman Ezra Chadzamira were unsuccessful, while Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Addmore Pazvakavambwa, had previously confirmed the developments and pledged a meeting with the veterans — which has yet to take place.

Rodgers Gava, chairman of the affected farmers, told Masvingo Mirror that neither he nor the other occupants have received formal communication from the Resident Minister's office regarding their eviction. The newspaper is in possession of a permit showing that one of the farm occupants had been legally allocated a 1.5-hectare plot under the Land Fast Track Resettlement Programme, allowing both residential construction and farming activities.

An earlier report by Masvingo Mirror indicated that some residential stand beneficiaries include permanent secretaries, ministry directors, and staff from Minister Chadzamira's office. Sources claim the development is under private developers who are children of a high-ranking Zanu-PF politician.

Masvingo Mayor Aleck Tabe maintains that the land belongs to the council and is earmarked for a provincial hospital, aligning with the city's draft masterplan, which identifies the site as ideal for the province's largest healthcare facility.

A letter signed by then Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Douglas Mombeshora on August 4, 2016, addressed to the then Minister of Local Government, Saviour Kasukuwere, confirmed the handover of Clipsham Farm for urban development. The handover process was to be conducted jointly between the ministries.

Despite complaints from the tenants to Zanu-PF provincial chairman Robson Mavhenyengwa, who reportedly claimed the land was now urban, no meaningful assistance was forthcoming.

Masvingo Mirror has also documented names of workers from Chadzamira's office and his Permanent Secretary Pazvakavambwa's office who were allocated plots, including Chadzamira's personal assistant, deputy directors of local government, drivers, and office orderlies.

The transfer of the land from war veterans to politically connected elites has raised serious concerns over transparency and the prioritisation of urban development over the livelihoods of long-standing residents.