News / National
MDC-T senator saves Mnangagwa from protests
16 Sep 2016 at 07:55hrs | Views
Matobo MDC-T senator Sithembile Mlotshwa on Thursday rescued vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa from protests by angry villagers after she begged them to lodge a High Court application for a proper demonstration.
Mnangagwa was due to visit Maphisa ARDA irrigation estate to tour an agricultural irrigation project he spearhead in partnership with Trek Petroleum.
However, but the project has met fierce resistance from villagers.
The roadside skirting leading to the ARDA Estate was defaced with graffiti written 'Gukurahundi is back', 'Gukurahundi Camp'.
Villagers in Matobo's Zwehamba, Matankeni and Mahetshe areas claimed the project was encroaching into their ancestral lands and also crowding them out.
Said Mlotshwa, "The government facilitated the partnership between Arda and Trek, which is a move for the better that the people welcomed," she said.
"But Trek found that it doesn't fit in the fields that belong to Arda and is now extending in the process evicting villagers from their homes and from their farming lands. Top political leaders have been to the area on the project, but none of them were concerned about the villagers plight".
Grace Mugabe has visited the estate previously, pronouncing satisfaction on the project whereas Mnangagwa has visited the project several times, the initial being the official opening ceremony which was characterized by pomp and fanfare.
Mnangagwa was due to visit Maphisa ARDA irrigation estate to tour an agricultural irrigation project he spearhead in partnership with Trek Petroleum.
However, but the project has met fierce resistance from villagers.
The roadside skirting leading to the ARDA Estate was defaced with graffiti written 'Gukurahundi is back', 'Gukurahundi Camp'.
Villagers in Matobo's Zwehamba, Matankeni and Mahetshe areas claimed the project was encroaching into their ancestral lands and also crowding them out.
Said Mlotshwa, "The government facilitated the partnership between Arda and Trek, which is a move for the better that the people welcomed," she said.
"But Trek found that it doesn't fit in the fields that belong to Arda and is now extending in the process evicting villagers from their homes and from their farming lands. Top political leaders have been to the area on the project, but none of them were concerned about the villagers plight".
Grace Mugabe has visited the estate previously, pronouncing satisfaction on the project whereas Mnangagwa has visited the project several times, the initial being the official opening ceremony which was characterized by pomp and fanfare.
Source - NewsDay
