By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has authorized the eviction of 12 500 villagers from Chiredzi’s Chilonga village.

According to The Standard, the over 12 500 villagers from Chilonga are being forced to make way for a lucerne grass project spearheaded by a local dairy producer.

Lucerne grass, also called alfalfa, is used for making hay or animal fodder.

Dendairy, a private milk producer, is said to be eyeing approximately 10 000 hectares of arable land for the lucerne production project meant for local and international markets.

Through statutory instrument 50 of 2021 (Communal Land Setting aside of Land (Chiredzi, notice 2021), published in the Government Gazette on Friday, Local Government minister July Moyo said the land had been reserved for the grass farming project.

“The minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development in terms of section 10 of the Communal Land Act (Chapter 20, 04), hereby makes the following notice: This notice may be cited as the communal land (setting aside of land) (Chiredzi) notice, 2021,” reads the notice.

“The area of land described hereunder in terms of this schedule shall be set aside with effect from the date of publication of this notice for the purpose of lucerne production.

“Any person occupying or using the land specified in the schedule, otherwise than by virtue of a right held in terms of the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21,05), is ordered to depart permanently with all of his or her property from the said land by the date of publication of this notice, unless he or she acquires rights of use of occupation to the said land in terms of section (9) (1) of the Communal Land Act (Chapter (20,04).”

The land that was gazetted is approximately 12 940 hectares.

Villagers had resisted the move, fearing they might suffer the same fate as 3 000 Chivi and Masvingo South villagers that were forced out of their homes during the construction of the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam.

They were dumped in Chingwizi in 2014.

The government neglected the villagers and most of them are living in squalor.

A local civic society organisation committed to the development of socio-economic rights and agrarian systems that enhance equitable land rights and distribution — Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development (Macrad) — described the looming Chiredzi evictions as ‘disastrous”.

-The Standard