Hundreds of villagers around Muzarabani Growth Point in Mashonaland Central Province face displacement to pave way for the expansion of the growth point.
The villagers, through their traditional leaders, have sought assistance from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to stop their impending eviction.
The affected villagers claim they were not given alternative land to relocate to.
A letter written by the villagers through lawyer Paidamoyo Saurombe to the Muzarabani Rural District Council (MRDC) reads in part:
<blockquote>
Any relocation of villagers must be done in terms of the provisions of the law; and that there should be adequate notice and suitable relocation areas provided by MRDC.
There should be compensation to those who will be affected and adequate provisions to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of the area, hence a blanket approach, which disturbs the way of life of the village heads and the villagers would be undesirable and unlawful.
</blockquote>
The letter was copied to Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo.
The villagers demanded to be availed of a map that shows that their villages were in the Muzarabani growth point catchment area. They wrote:
In that vein, in terms of section 62 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, read with section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 10:33), which promotes public access to governance information for the purpose of exercising accountability, we request to be provided with the following documents and information: The 1983 map for Muzarabani growth point, the October 1987 map for Muzarabani growth point, and the ground plan for Muzarabani growth point.
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200001941/muzarabani-villagers-face-eviction">NewsDay</a>

Pindula News

Muzarabani Villagers Face Displacement

Hundreds of ZANU PF supporters in Chegutu East who are facing potential displacement have threatened to withdraw support from President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the general elections scheduled for 2023.
About 300 families who were allocated land in Chegutu may be displaced to make way for a proposed platinum mine for a Chinese firm.
The majority of the plot holders are retired civil servants who depend on small-scale farming.
The disgruntled villagers held a meeting at Hopewell farm in Chegutu where they blamed Mnangagwa for their possible displacement. One of the villagers said:
<blockquote>
Even he (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) if we are evicted, the election is coming, who will vote for him, how will he win the election?
Will the Chinese vote for him? Will one person make him win? They cannot support one corrupt person at the expense of hundreds.
We fought for this land, and you cannot tell us to leave, where do you want us to go as old as we are?
Hurumende ngaiticherechedzewo, murombo haavigwi ari mupenyu munotoumirira kuti afe.
We suffered for this land and our pain cannot go in vain because of one person.
</blockquote>
Another plot holder who spoke during the meeting expressed dismay over the development. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, we fought the whites and they left, now fellow blacks are fighting us, we cannot be fighting each other.
</blockquote>
Thousands of Zimbabweans across the country have been displaced to make way for big business as the “Second Republic” apparently shows scant regard for local people’s right to land.

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