Ray Nkosi | Villagers from four villages in Matobo who recently lost their agricultural land to Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa, initiated ARDA Maphisa land grab are living in fear as heavily armed soldiers are patrolling the area to block them from accessing their former fields as the farming seasons intensifies.
The villagers, most of them elderly and in the area which was heavily affected by the mid eighties Gukurundi atrocities claim that, the no nonsense soldiers who are threatening to shoot to kill anyone seen trespassing into the land bring back Gukurahundi memories.
According to villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence, the soldiers have declared a mini curfew warning that they will shoot at any moving object that will be seen around the extended ARDA Estate between sunset and sunrise.
The villagers claim that they are extremely terrified by the presence of the soldiers and some are start to leave the area altogether and move to other areas.
The terrified villagers further claim that they fear hunger this year as they have not been able to plough at a time when the area is receiving very good rains.
“If nothing is done for us we will definitely starve this year and will also not be able to raise money for school fees for our children,” said one of the villagers.
“What is irritating more is that ARDA has not done anything to the fields yet when we had asked them to give us a chance to plant this year only while government decides what will be done to us,” he added.
The ARDA project is estimated to take over up to 2000 hectares of land from villagers surrounding the estate which will see scores of villagers landless.
The issues will be petty to you because you are not from Matebeleland – you have never felt targeted or victimised by those in power for “the alleged past sins of your forefathers”.
So, psychologically you are at peace with ZANU PF and its government; hence your attitude.
You have a party and a government in power that has always identified with you; your language; your tribe; your culture; your historical spirit mediums – in fact just about everything about you as a Shona speaking person.
Everything in that country today, including state institutions, reflects the Shona identity; totally the opposit of what things were in the Rhodesian days – even the packing order of languages.
So, why would you expect Matebeleland people; who dont see themselves included anywhere (and this has been the case in the last 36 years) to view ZANU PF in the same light with you?
You admitted, you dont have all the facts. Remember I am not prejudiced against the people like you; so being prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt knowing where they come from with ZANU PF in the last 36 years; I mentioned issues that could be the reasons for the villagers’ resistance; broadly bieng Consultations/engagement; relocation/resettlement and compensation. You expect all this to be detailed in the article?
Why are you just picking up on one issue of resettlement?
And if the same problems of ZANU PF’s modus operandi over such projects arose regarding Chingwizi, Marange etc; why is this Matobo one tribal and not the others?
Please stop tying yourself up in a nought my man.
Matebeleland has a different 36 years of experience of ZANU PF rule, than all Shona speaking regions; thats an undisputed fact.
The people there are right to suspect everything that ZANU PF party embarks on in the region. Yes, they may be wrong in some cases, but is it their fault?
The problem is ZANU PF not them. Since 1980, that party has done nothing to identify with the people there.
They only identify with everything Shona and yet they are supposed to be a national government. Even almost all Shona-led political parties and their meetings, ZANU PF being the worst culprit; you would think these are all Shona regional parties, given the heavy leaning towards the use of the Shona language in just about everything – the use of English is just peripheral; and as to Matebeleland languages; dont even mention; they just dont exist to them.
This is why, to the people of Matebeleland ZANU PF means Shona, not withstanding the fact that there are Mthwakazi former ZAPU leaders in that party. Its the fault of ZANU PF and not the people – they as a govt must learn to reach out to the people and cease their arrogance, because the people should be the masters and government their servant, not the other way round.
ZANU PF is only focused on numbers and if you as a people are a minority and do not have much impact on their electoral fortunes; you are nothing to them, hence they just walk rough shod all over you . Above all, ZANU PF is used to bulldozing – they never consult on anything with black people.
Infact, they are more inclined and willing to consult with whites, white farmers etc than with Blacks.
They are worse than Ian Smith. Mthwakazi is right – Period. Call me tribal or regional I dont care.
My problem is with ZANU PF and its government, not the Shona people.
Your problem is clearly with the Matebeleland people and their provinces, not with ZANU PF. So, who is regional and tribalistic here?
All that you have said might be true any other day ,and I would I agree 100%
The issue here is a simple one….
1.the villagers themselves never complained that government neglected them…Did you see it any where in the article?.
Did you read anywhere..Where the people said we haven’t been relocated or resettled?…Did you read any of that…
Iam assuming this journalist interviewed the villagers.. Because he quotes them saying ARDA is not allowing them to farm,etc….So do you think the affected villagers would forget that they had houses built by ARDA just destroyed them and they are now in the rains?
Man,you need to look at issues and separate common sense from fear induced irrationality.
A good example is Chingwizi ,the flood affected people of masvingo.. Government got the rap for not relocating or resettling the people well .
Lets see…The people of Chingwizi Masvingo all reported that government did not relocate them,had failed to resettle them…When being interviewed,this is important because housing is a need ,no sane person would start talking about fields which are idle,yet they are roofless, especially in this rain.the people of Marange also complained of no relocation and no compensation for destroyed property.
So you are saying these people decided to concentrate on the taken fields by ARDA ,but forget that they don’t have housing.Really,that’s your well reasoned opinion..That the villagers or the reporter failed to point out the fact that the ARDA project took villagers homes and government didn’t compensate or relocate them
I would even dare say , given what the article says, the villagers might be complaining because they have virgin fields now ..Instead of the well groomed fields they use to have …The issue here is ,yet they don’t want to start afresh on a field that has trees,thorns etc and which will be time consuming to prepare for the planting season..I hope you understand.
If you know rural life…These are people who have been give new virgin fields ,which need more time to prepare..Hence the need to want need to plant in there old fields so that they can meet the planting season…And the reason why they asked ARDA to just plant for this season Only….
Being suspecious is one thing yes,we all are suspicious of government I agree…But at times , yes not all that government does is bad .
When government started the national biodiesel plant , Again some cried foul …But really the idea was noble.
2.It is you with a one track tribal and regional mind who is actually a prisoner ,not me sir.
Mngangwa is a disliked individual in Zimbabwe,and mostly in Matabeleland…But I haven’t read anywhere were you actually admitted there is nothing to do with him in the article.
I haven’t seen were you agreed that there is nothing to do with gukurahundi 2 in the article.
You are so tribally minded and blinded by hate that your views are one track minded …It’s only your views and nothing else that is correct.
About MDC it’s not everything that MDC is suspicious over that is correct…At times MDC has thrown spanners to some ideas which might be good ..But we ,me included, have supported MDC not because them being right but because it is just against zanu.I did that being less mature than iam now
Let’s stop arguing for the sake of arguing.
Is Mngangwa involved here?
Is gukurahundi 2 initiated here?
Is ARDA not allowing them to farm necessarily news?
Yes be suspicious,but don’t be clouded by emotional reactions of tribe and hate.
Let me explain..Zanu is running the government of the day,now we all hate this fact ,but it’s fact none the less.
Should the government through whatever department ,initiate a program eg through zesa,zinwa,ARDA,etc even if the project is ideologically bankrupt we should follow…And accepts the project.
What we should do as citizens is organise and see were our rights are being trampled upon..Eg no relocation,no resettlement,etc but we still must follow the government directive as not doing when a legally valid directive is given is illegal.
MDC for a while and especially in its infancy would just argue for the sake of arguing…Like it did in 2000 when there was a proposal for a new constitution….We all supported MDC against the proposal …But really that was just politics…The idea wasn’t bad…MDC just wanted to show the middle finger to zanu ..And we as a country used MDC to show our anger and needed for change at zanu.
So my brother,even if you use MDC examples I will still explain most of them away… Because politics of support is mostly at play.
Just like with Matebeleland political parties ,they always use Gukurahundi issues ,and at times unnecessarily just so that they can lure and control the matebeles away from shonas ,they do this so that they can have a negotiating platform with stronger Shona leaders.
3.I am sorry to say that in as far as your debating skills and looking at issues sensibly you have failed here on this topic.
4.You can call me all manner of names ,as if thats going to really affect me ,but you can’t change facts.
Call me a tribalist..Fine ,that’s your view,others don’t see me that way.
Disagree with me ,fine .Others agree with me.
I don’t reason according to tribe actually , but I look at each case and it’s merit.
I don’t turn a blind eye to matebeleland,no, but the issue is at times issues from that side of the country are exaggerated and even at times petty….So if I point that out and give a different view I seem against or tribal…no sir ,it’s within my rights to reason as I can,and see issues as I can …
Iam not a cheerleader,don’t mistaken me with a yes man…I don’t join the band wagon of cheerleaders and praise or naysayers….i will leave that for you.
There is nothing off topic here. As I said, you have a serious problem of contextual comprehension.
You are the one who said Matebeleland people should stop being suspicious of everything the ZANU PF government does. And that they must separate ZANU PF, the party and its government.
I am giving you examples of your own MDCT party’s suspicions over any ZANU PF conducted elections and I expect you to explain why you, yourselves are justified to be suspicious of ZANU PF, yet you expect Matebeleland to trust them, despite their experiences under their rule?
I also told you ZANU PF does not separate itself as a party from its government and also gave you examples of this; which is why our Mthwakazi people dont make that distinction either; but still you expect them to.
So, having given you the background to their well grounded suspicions of ZANU PF and your own MDC T suspicions of ZANU PF; this therefore means your giving ZANU PF the benefit of the doubt over this ARDA land issue, given that you dont have the full facts stinks of tribalism to the high heavens.
So far you have not given any convincing argument or reasons for these double standards on your part.
Given the absence of the full facts and ZANU PF’s undisputed track record of deciet; which your own MDC T party admits; I would have therefore expected you to default on the side of the villagers, since your party doesnt trust ZANU PF either.
They have proved over and over again that they are not people centred. So apart from tribalism against Mthwakazi; whats your reason for trusting them this time around?
I have already answered you..And quite fairly I must say.
I have given you different scenarios and what is to be done .But you seem hell-bent on discussing your own topic.
You have gone off topic,that you are lost as to the issues at hand….
You now talk about nikuv ,MDC t,etc which is besides the point that…
I said the article never mentioned poor or no compensation
The article never said the villagers were not given resettlement….
The article never at any time gave us a hint of any real complaints …
The article only says..ARDA has taken land which it is not using
The article says that…The army has threatened death to the villagers should they trespass..Which I said I suspect it is mere grandstanding on the part of the soldiers.
The article says the villagers gukurahundi 2: Mngangwa what ever….
Now iam not a fan of Mngangwa…But still I feel here the article has been malicious,emotive and is based on character assassination..Not that his character needs much to destroy(he did that all by himself)
So …All the issues you are talking of are really off topic and going round in circles.
Stick to this topic of the article.dont create your own topic
OK, I see
Will you ask your MDC T and Tswangirayi to stop suspecting ZANU PF and its government in every abduction of MDC-T supporters and other activists; or suspecting every election in which ZANU PF wins and they lose.
Stop crying about an unequal unequal playing field – not everything ZANU PF does is unfair; according to you. Stop crying about the Voters Roll and cooking up unproven stories about NIKUV.
Only then will I take you seriously about your views regarding ZANU PF and its government in Matebeleland. Otherwise, its means you are a tribalist.
Indeed your judgement is clouded by your attitude towards the region and people of Matebeleland.
My judgement is not clouded by where I come, but by Mugabe and ZANU PF’s proven history of collousness against all its citizens; its history of consistent deceit and crookedness.
You see the difference betweem you and me – you are focused on tribe and region; I am focused on ZANU PF and Mugabe!!!!
Yes I have a problem as you said ,what’s untrue is I have one problem..i have several problems, you just pointed to one of them.
If ,as per your reasoned assumptions..The government didn’t compensate and relocate the poor villagers..then:
1.The title of the article should be changed to suit the issues…Not to say”Gukurahundi 2, Mngangwa “what what..We should tell the editor off,for being malicious and overly exaggerative and down right lies.
2.The villagers should appreciate human rights lawyers,in Byo there are there ,these will fight for the villagers to be relocated and compensated properly.
3.No one ,Ndebeles or shonas deserve to be treated with callousness.
4.it might be true that my judgement might be clouded by my shonaness,were I come from… But so is yours…When it comes to matebeleland you shoot first ask later …This might be attributed to the trauma and past injustices felt on that side of the country.
However it still does not excuse you for being overly emotive .
I explained to you…I look at an issue,and digest it’s contents…
My problem might be I look at cases at times on Facebook value,and at times might fail to see the emotion and history behind the issue….
So , conclusion,we are both of us faulted and flawed
Its safe to assume consultations, compensation and alternative resettlement arrangements were not done, as this has been the ZANU PF ‘s government’s modus operandi in the last 36 year.
Not everything in life will be laid bear to you in black and white. Thats why we use trends, deductions and projections to arrive at certain rational conclusions under given circumstances.
Read through all the articles; I have been pointing out the same issues; but you clearly dont understand what you read.
You have this habit of clouding your understanding, views and judgement with too many off tangent wild ideas; most of them based on prejudice and almost concretely set value judgements about the people of Mthwakazi, that have no bearing on the crux of the argument. Thats your problem!!
Yaah neh; now you see where I am coming from. At last; eish I dont know whether you understand what you read.
It takes a whole lot of repeating oneself from numerous different angles to get you to understand the gist of an argument; why?
Your problem is that you write too much: go off tangent and cloud your mind and judgement with too many peripheral issues, which have no bearing on the points of departure. Again, prejudice is your major weakness.
Next time try to be concise and brief in your writings. Just zoom in onto the major points of difference.
Its called the art of writing, because concise writing is itself an art.
Finally, nobody forces you to believe the article.
Ok
Great now since you have narrowed the issues at hand…Which you said are to do with
Consultations
Compensation
And alternative arrangements of settlement…
I can answer you with a clear conscience.
In the article we are so keenly debating about..The writer NEVER said the villagers were not given compensation or alternative settlements…The article just speaks about how the villagers had occupied the land for ages….And how ARDA just took the land and yet is not even using the land.
And also ,they,talk of how the army I threatening them with death,should they enter into ARDA properties…
But please feel free to point were the villagers complained of not getting compensation or not being relocated/not receiving alternative settlements.
The government is whosale guilty of not consulting and being a bit insensitive…But if they compensated the poor villagers properly…Iam sorry ,lets denounce rogue journalist as the writer
OK,I see where you are coming from.
Obviously I can’t give zanu the benefit of a doubt on most of anything.
On the Marange diamonds saga ..The militarisation of the whole process ,the maiming of civilian illegal miners and their abuse was wrong… But the removal of people and their relocation was not wrong…The Marange people had to be moved to another location because of the apparent national significance of the project..Which “was supposed to benefit the nation at large”… However never did.
However it was futile for anyone to try and say the government then was wrong for the relocation and removal of Marange people ..What people critised then and now was the excessive force and militarisation of the process and also the lack of compensation for the affected individuals.
But now the people have been compensated..Houses built for them….All is well.
I will say this..If the individuals have been abused physically,or otherwise…Removed without compensation or relocation…Then we must condemn the government through ARDA in the strongest terms….
However ,why I refrained from direct attack on the government.. Was…
A.the article was highly emotive and biased..It was intended to create feelings of hate and panic.
B.I refrained from judgment because..The title of the story and gukurahundi have no correlation.So if soldiers guard the ARDA station then it has to be gukurahundi?…Hmmm,I think we can be more mature than this.
C.I can understand the traumatized villagers,and there feeling of betrayal…But most of these individuals are simple villagers who are implusive , ignorant of any thing outside what they know..
For example..To them they can’t fathom seeing ARDA taking there land and just leaving it ideal …But what if ARDA has plans it just postponed,what if the idle fields house millions worth of equipment?
All these issues spoken off.But I know for sure ..If I were the CEO for ARDA I would also not allow them to farm on getting government property,no matter how I feel for them.
The one thing I can agree with you is …This article serves to inform us of any would be abused the zanu led parties might do .
But as for now ,I can’t be made to believe the half story from an article whose title is a lie and the contents of the article are parallel to the title.
Because you have no facts. Protecting National assets, by the same Army Generals who left the Marange Diamond fields barren? Lord have mercy!!
You are wrong. You know very well that ZANU PF and Mugabe himself dont make a distinction between their party and government. This is one of the MDC T’s core differences with them.
Clearly, you are are just a pedestrian supporter who doesnt even know what his party stands for. Where do you think all this money to buy numerous bakkies for party election campaigning comes from in such a depressed economic environment? All their party businesses are ruined; so where is the money coming from?
ZANU PF or their government never consult citizens on anything. The issue here is not about the taking over of land by government for national projects. This is where you are wrong – you are stubborn and refuse to understand the gist of my differences with you.
The issue is about consultations; compensations and alternative arrangements of resettlement.
There are numerous examples in the past 36 years where this has never happened in Zim and this is a Black government.
Many of the things ZANU PF does to black people are unforgivable. Ian Smith never bulldozed whites.
In short; given ZANU PF’s long history of bulldozing its decisions on Zimbabweans; from the numerous elections; election processes; voters roles etc in the past; the Constitution making process; the Marange Diamonds disaster; and lately the Bond notes being all cases in point, among a litany of such impositions – with out the full facts at hand as you admitted; why do you prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt in this case and not the ordinary poor villagers?
I want to respond..But I don’t know what you are arguing for or against…
Just list and I will respond individually.
Because you are everywhere bro
I won’t dignify your reply with an answer
The people of Marange should and must move to make way for the diamond mining for the good of the country and community.
Such as the people of chitungwiza must move to make way for the Harare chitungwiza railway….
The only issue is
1.did the government relocate them
2.did the government give them compensation for the improvements they did
3.dis the government do all legal issues correctly.
Iam not being tribal and emotive ….
Zanu is zanu , government is government….At times we must attack both zanu and government and at times we must attack only one side..Either zanu only or government
If people are moved from theiand to make way for a national power plant …And are given adequate compensation…
Should we just attack get government.. Because it’s a zanu government..Yet the idea is noble.
I said if these people were not compensated ,were not relocated and given adequate provisions..then the government must be attacked .
So if we follow your thinking,you are saying because zanu is evil …then ,every government initiative,every government directive ,every government department must be ignored when it initiates programs in the community.
That’s a dangerous and suicidal thinking.
Again ,I never made reference to Ndebeles coming in 1834 in Zimbabwe..And why you would think I would bring the issue of Mzilikazi migration is beyond me.
The people of matebeleland haven’t done anything to me …But I refuse to be a mere cheerleader to something I don’t believe.
I see you are shouting my brother…But I really don’t know why ,or what you are on about.
1.i already said the relocation of these people.. Whether they wanted it or not ..Is not new around the world.. Because the land belongs to ZIMBABWE,not individuals..and the government can you its given powers to relocate them to new areas if there is a project for the greater good
2.I said if the government has not compensated or relocated the poor villagers ,then government is wrong and must be taken to court.. Remember I said they should engage human rights lawyers earlier.
3.Again I said we don’t have enough facts to judge….And there is no real issue here any … Unless government did not relocate or compensate the villagers.
4.This is different from beatings ,where I can easily by default reach to the conclusion that zanu is guilty…
Here we are talking about a government department which moved people from land for an ARDA project..This is totally different… we cannot just by default say the project is wrong .Or zanu is wrong.
With me it is OK to always suspect zanu…But lets look at all circumstances..Not just blanket everything wrong.
The problem really is matebeles hate zanu,the government and everything else…..So it doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad..So long as it’s from zanu,shonas and government it’s wrong.
That’s a wrong attitude..I mean I understand where it comes from..But it is still wrong.
Call me a tribalist …It won’t change my opinion or contribution….Lets look at each event with suspicion but with each it’s own merit
What Generals “protecting national assets”? Protecting them from who? Who is armed over there and who is training them and providing with weapons to justify tge depliyment an army instead of the ordinary Police?
So the sane Generals did a good job “protecting national assets” by uprooting and killing Marange villagers? You are quite a spectacle I swear?
Where are those “Diamonds national assets” as we speak today? Where is the $15 billion? Why are you now using Bond notes after the “protection of national assets”?
It suspect that according to your book, Generals are only doing a good job of “protecting national assets” only if its Matebeleland. A typical Shona tribalist. On that score, there is no debate; enough evidence abounds!
In what way are my views tribally inclined? Are you saying I would not say the same things regarding the Marange villagers? If not then, how are my views tribally inclined?
My main problem with you is that, in virtually every article on Matebeleland; despite not having enough facts (by your own admission), you simply default on the side of ZANU PF.
You are saying people should stop being suspicious of every ZANU PF government move; you have not answered why you as a supporters and your party the MDC T are always suspicious of all elections organised by the ZANU PF govt?
Is suspicion of ZANU PF ok only if its from the Shona?
Who doesnt know how ZANU PF operates? Why, without adequate facts are you always prepared to give the benefit of the doubt to a political party and govt that has a 36 year record of lies and deciet; which your very own party and its leader have never trusted?
Please give us break. You are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A very dangerous Shona ZANU PF inclined tribalist; because you can indeed win a Gold medal at pretence!
I wonder what the Matebeleland people did to you; and please dont tell us the Grand mothers fire place stories about the 1800s again.
Non of us lived in those times; just like Bona, Robert Jnr and Chatunga never lived in Gukurahundi times and therefore, likewise should not be burdened with Gukurahundi stories!!
1.true the people have been traumatized by zanu….And I can’t explain that away.
2.The government is guilty of being insensitive,which is the real crime here,that and scaring the crap out of traumatized civilians.
3.The government indeed imposed itself…But this is not a special case ….All over the world there is always resistance to change, particularly were government projects are concerned…In some like Brazil the clashes end in bloodshed,in some others like Botswana..The affected individuals sue the government which forcily wanted to remove them…I’m talking about the San people in the Okavhango or in the game parks..
In other SA,the clashes with government have resulted in death,and armed police has been used to quell protests..Marikana being a case in point.
By the way iam not supporting brute force on the people ,no sir…But iam merely expressing that ..What is happening here may not necessarily be news per se.
The issue of allowing them to farm on a state parastal land ( it is now state parastal land …The moment ARDA took over )..If you were the CEO of this ARDA would you allow the community to farm on this land out of pity..
This is now state land ,bro,and we can’t just allow people to come farm on it ,even if it’s ideal…..What if they have put irrigation equipment,or some other equipment…
An objective comment will say…The government should compansate,relocate and provide necessary assistance
It might be true that iam confused and tribalistic as you said.
But if I was confused I would not know , would I.
About me being tribalistic ,well that’s relative really,I also see your views as being tribally inclined.
Look here. That land is sometimes taken over for projects by governments the world over, is not the issue here.
Please dont talk like you are not from Zim and you dont know ZANU PF. Going by what we all know of ZANU PF; they have never consulted affected communities on any projects. Marange is a case in point.
I really dont know why you are making unnecessary suppositions; giving them the benefit of the doubt, as if you are talking about a suddenly new democratic government that we all dont know.
Any objective balanced person can even tell that the villagers are not a threat to the project and are not resisting, given their expectations that at least government should have allowed them to plant and harvest for this season only, while they are still deciding on the way forward.
As to the issue of Mnangagwa etc; you know very well we are here talking about villagers, and these are people who can be easily influenced by people with various agendas. They are not sophisticated.
But given the people’s experiences with Gukurahundi; government itself is the problem, for failing to handle the issue with the necessary sensitivity. As someone explained to you eleswhere in this publication, Mthwakazi politics and the people’s attitude towards ZANU PF and its government will never be the same with that of Shona speaking provinces because of their experiences of the still unaddressed issues of Gukurahundi and issues of marginalisations; ZANU PF politicians who come to them, forcing them to listen to their Shona language addresses and the now dominance of Shona people in all jobs in the regions, despite them being a minority. These are real issues that have conditioned the people in the region to what they are. They have absolutely no trust in ZANU PF.
We all know ZANU PF; and you know it too, but your tendency to rush onto their side all the time on anything that has to do with the people of Matebeleland; even by you own admission, without enough facts, is very troubling.
In my case; given what I know about ZANU PF, I would much rather be on the side of the ordinary people, cautiously so; even without all the facts.
In other words, even without the full facts, I would much rather give the benefit of the doubt to the people and this includes ordinary people all over the country, including the Marange villagers and any other ordinary people in Shona provinces, not just Matebeleland; NOT ZANU PF and their government.
Suspicion of government is justified because of their undemocratic modus operandi. Which country do you come from?
It is the ZANU PF govt at fault here, not the people. The way they carry on in just about everything is simply not the way a people’s govt operates; everything is by force; everything is an imposition, whether you like it or not. The Bond notes are a case in point.
If its not an issue if suspicion, why do you MDC T people question every election result in which ZANU PF wins, even without enough evidence of fraud or rigging?
You are confused and too tribalistic minded. Thats your problem!!
Always nice to respond to your comments.
1.Why government projects should be threatened by civilians is multi faceted sir.
The villagers refused to leave ,and see might be(might because I don’t know the true facts…Neither do you)
It is not a strange thing that civilians refuse to leave and even threaten sabotage to government projects…World over such things happen.. Zimbabwe being no exception
2.The issue of guarding a government facility with the army is debatable….First I don’t know the intelligence that the government has,why they did that ,and neither do you ..We are all commenters on am issue we are safely reading online…So none of us is the wiser….And I won’t claim to know more or less than what I read.
The issue of the army threatening civilians with death if they trespass..Sounds a bit exaggerated…And of its true I doubt if the army or government sanctioned such….Please inform me ..In Zimbabwe , except during gukurahundi when have you ever heard the army firing in civilians,even around the heavily guarded state house?
3.The government might be insensitive,yes…But I am saying that the taking over of land by government is not new in Zimbabwe or in the world.Even in SA when building the N3 and R21 highway they took people’s land ..but compansated the affected individuals.
Man it happens every where in America ,in The UK..Etc…
The government has special rights when it comes to land ..in any country.. Especially when dealing with projects for the greater good.
4. Whether or not consultation was done does not really affect or reduce governments power or ability to take over land unless the land heritage site, ancestral graves..Etc..These might be used to limit governments power to take over that land and relocate the people.
These people are not more special than the tongas who were frog marched to another area just so that Kariba dam could be built.
5.since I explained 1-4…The real issues are here :
i.Is the project going to benefit the community and or country at large.
ii.Were the affected individuals given appropriate relocation,in terms of housing , transport,and compensation for any improvements they might have made.
iii.Iam not supporting for the sake of supporting but just abreast with world events…In every country people have been moved from home and land to pave way for national projects ..This is not new…What is news is did these people receive coompensation,did they get appropriate relocation?….
If government didn’t consult ,but gave them proper rehabilitation and relocation and compensation..the only issue is the government was insensitive..Only…Tell me the government didn’t compensate,didn’t assist to relocate them…then I will support the article.
But if it’s an issue of engagement, that’s another story ….And even in court it’s unconvictable.Thats not say it should be a lesser evil.
Truth ..I grew up in the dust of chitungwiza…and anyone who knows about chitungwiza knows that There was talk of the Harare chitungwiza railway…Which was supposed to cross through specific houses…Which means certain people were to lose houses ..But all of chitungwiza was unified in saying that so long as the affected get proper housing as compensation then all is well.. Because the project was for the greater good.
Now iam older..But I believe that the people of chitungwiza still are eagerly await the project.
Truth my friend ..You have so many nice views ,I fear your undoing is your emotive response amd thinking.
Please stop politicising everything…
As per the story I see no evidence of foul play…Why is Mnagangwa dragged into the issue….ARDA is everywhere country wide.
I ,like so many ,don’t trust Mngangwa..but should we just hate him ,just like that?.Even were as logical people we can see his hand is not involved.
I stand with the truth..No matter from what angle…i have no permanent friends…Just permanent goals .
So I might support MDC today ..Yet tomorrow critise them
The undoing of matebeles is their all too much suspicion of everything government related to your own down fall
I hope I helped.
Couldn’t put it any better. You are progressively minded and well opinoned.
Wena mfondini; why should government projects, that are civilian in nature, such as an Agri project be threatened by locals?
Think man. Stop being swayed by tribalism. This is ZANU PF we are talking about.
The problem in Zim is not the local villagers anywhere around the country; from east to west; South to north.
The core problem is an insensitive government that believes in the use of military tactics everywhere and anywhere; the abuse of the army everywhere and anywhere; even where its not even necessary.
The regime believes in instilling fear.
Mugabe and his ZANU PF government believe engaging Zimbabweans on any planned govt projects is time wasting. They are by their very nature undemocratic in a supposedly democratic country. They are no different from the Smith regime, if not worse.
All Zimbabweans want is a caring government, that engages them; talks to them about their plans and puts into place alternative arrangements to allow for their lives to continue unhindered.
In South, givernment always makes an effort to consult with the affected people before decisions on major projects are taken.
Some have tried the ZANU PF way of pretence at consultation or simply bulldozing, with dire conseqyences; particularly over provincial border demarcation exercises. Zimbabweans normally dont go to that extent; hence the government just walks all over them with impunity.
ZANU PF and their government should learn to engage and consult wuth affected communities.
So please wena Doc, dont just support for the sake of supporting; just because this is, as usual uMthwakazi who are the victims.
Tomorrow it will be your relatives in the Mashonaland villages. ZANU PF is ZANU PF; and you know them!!
when an article like this appears the reporter/s do not even ask the Human Rights Organisations wht they are doing about this so should we believe this story
Rubbish article as usual, Doc you are point on. This project has nothing to do with ED. These desperate efforts are actually propping Ngwena.
What’s your logic of insulting the generals who are protecting national assets?
ARDA has nothing to do with Mngangwa.
I will say it , though some irrational people will yell and cry bloody murder.
Guys ,first ..ARDA has nothing to do with Mngangwa,it is a department or parastal of government responsible for food and agriculture… Although I stand corrected.
I don’t know how or why Mnagangwa is involved in the article,maybe he officiated it’s opening,or something.but Mngangwa is the Minister of Justice and the vice president,lest I forget.But Again I stand corrected.
The removal of people from communal lands to others is not new..even in America,etc it is done.
When they built Kariba dam didn’t they move people from land occupied for generations of people.
If they want to dualiase a road or construct a railway or airport etc can they not acquire land for the greater good.
So long as compensation or relocation has been done , what is happening there is not news really .
The person who wrote the article is playing dirty politics…Against Mngangwa.Evil as he is ,we must not allow ourselves to be placed in a trap were we are drones ,and just target people were it is not due.
The locals are hurt,and , understandably so.But if government has taken the land..It is not a conspiracy,no , it happens all the time.
If some have property that has been destroyed and they didn’t receive compensation,they should engage human rights lawyers to receive their compensation .
Don’t tarnish people unnecessarily,what does ARDA have to do with gukurahundi?
Yes ,it’s a common practice anywhere again for government to call in security if government projects are threatened.
fuck you generals, shona savage
Nonsense Stupid paper you want us to fail to FEED the Zimbabweans at large coz of your wafu wafu Gukurahundi go hang pamberi neCommand Agriculture ARDA we are sick and tired of this Zimeye piece of Shit. Arda shall take over muchida musingade and Mnangagwa is the next President like it or Not. Sick and tired of homosexuals Gang Of Gay40 woofing nonsense everyday. Call it Gukurahundi 2; 20 whatever you want