News / National
Villagers' homes torched for being illegal settlers
05 Sep 2013 at 05:14hrs | Views
VILLAGERS in Gokwe South's Chemagora Resettlement area were left homeless when a group of unknown youths descended on the area and set their homes on fire accusing them of being illegal settlers.
The affected villagers who spoke to Chronicle said they have since sought temporary shelter at the homestead of the local traditional leader, Chief Njelele.
"We are now living in fear following the incident. Some of us have been staying in the Chemagora area for the last four years after we were resettled there. Chief Njelele was a member of the lands committee which allocated us land. We were, however, surprised when a group of youths under the escort of the police visited the area on Wednesday last week and started burning down our homes," said a villager, Mr Lameck Nyoni.
The villagers said they tried to take the matter to the District Administrator's office but could not get any joy.
They said Chief Njelele failed to address the matter as expected.
"We decided to go and camp at the chief's homestead after our homes were destroyed," said another affected villager, Mr George Ndira.
Mr Ndira said they were resettled at Chemagora resettlement area in 2008.
Chief Njelele confirmed the burning down of the villagers' homesteads. He said he has since intervened over the matter.
"There was a misrepresentation of facts. The information that officials from the department of lands have is that the affected villagers were illegal settlers. However, we have since addressed the matter and the affected villagers are now back in their area," he said.
The affected villagers who spoke to Chronicle said they have since sought temporary shelter at the homestead of the local traditional leader, Chief Njelele.
"We are now living in fear following the incident. Some of us have been staying in the Chemagora area for the last four years after we were resettled there. Chief Njelele was a member of the lands committee which allocated us land. We were, however, surprised when a group of youths under the escort of the police visited the area on Wednesday last week and started burning down our homes," said a villager, Mr Lameck Nyoni.
The villagers said they tried to take the matter to the District Administrator's office but could not get any joy.
They said Chief Njelele failed to address the matter as expected.
"We decided to go and camp at the chief's homestead after our homes were destroyed," said another affected villager, Mr George Ndira.
Mr Ndira said they were resettled at Chemagora resettlement area in 2008.
Chief Njelele confirmed the burning down of the villagers' homesteads. He said he has since intervened over the matter.
"There was a misrepresentation of facts. The information that officials from the department of lands have is that the affected villagers were illegal settlers. However, we have since addressed the matter and the affected villagers are now back in their area," he said.
Source - chronicle
