Villagers around Jerera Growth Point in Zaka District, Masvingo Province, are allegedly selling land to unsuspecting buyers.
The “unscrupulous” villagers have become a menace to Chief Ndanga born Wilson Makono and the Zaka Rural District Council.
Chief Ndanga told <a href="https://tellzim.com/zaka-villagers-turning-into-land-barons/">TellZim News</a> that in the past, the illegal selling of land was limited to village heads but now even villagers have become land barons.
Buyers are enticed by the proximity to Jerera Growth Point. Said Chief Ndanga:
<blockquote>
Village heads used to be major culprits but now villagers themselves have joined in, they are selling portions of their land to land seekers because they are close to Jerera Growth point.
We have been engaging them timely but they don’t listen. Now we are also engaging those who are buying land and telling them that when the time of expansion comes they may see their homes being destroyed.
Some members of the royal families are also selling land belonging to people who are based in towns or out of the country.
I have received a number of cases where brothers to village heads sell land behind village heads’ backs.
They usually target land that has not been tilled for some time and when owners come back they would find structures already in place.
However, we have regular punitive measures for such people and we are dealing with it.
At first, they were selling at around US$400 but because of demand, the prices have risen and recently I saw an advert advertising a piece of land being charged at US$1 000.
</blockquote>
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Zaka Central legislator where the area falls under, Davis Marapira (ZANU PF) confirmed the development. He said:
<blockquote>
It is true that land around Jerera Growth Point and along the road to Zaka Township has been sold without following proper procedures.
Land belongs to the State. It is only the President through the Local Government Ministry who can authorize the selling of land for commercial or domestic use after following proper procedures.
This is done illegally, the land being sold belongs to the community which uses the land for growing crops and keeping their livestock for their livelihood.
The law is clear that those who sold land will be prosecuted whilst, for those who bought the land, ignorance has no defence.
</blockquote>
TellZim News reported that the illegal selling of land is prevalent in villages Musiso, Mateko, Gwanya, Manyimo and Chipezeze among others.
The local authority, ZAKA RDC, is reportedly failing to curb the expansion of these villages into areas earmarked for Jerera expansion.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zaka Villagers Becoming Land Barons

A Zaka man facing a murder charge has been granted ZWL$20 000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze, after he spent almost four months in remand prison, reported <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/murder-suspect-gets-zwl20-000-bail%ef%bf%bc/">The Mirror</a>.
However, Panashe Chiwira (21) of Jerera’s role in the alleged murder was not stated in State papers.
State papers only include Chiwira as the fifth accused person in the murder of Alphios Mukorera at Jerera Growth Point on 10 October 2022.
Prosecutor Edwin Mbavarira did not oppose the bail.
The other accused are Susan Chekungwara (26) a sex worker, Talent Mugariri (24), Brighton Machaya (23) and Austin Gwatiwana (18).
It is alleged that Chekungwara would lure rich clients and inform Mugariri, Machaya, and Gwatiwana who would then attack her clients and rob them of valuables.
Mugariri, Machaya and Gwatiwana have previous convictions for stealing a vehicle under CR86/02/22 and CR151/04/19.
Allegations are that on 10 October 2022, Chekungwara left Nherera Night Club with Mukorera around 3 AM after informing her accomplices that he had cash on him.
Mugari, Machaya and Gwatiwana followed Chekungwara and Mukorera and they arrived at her place as Mukorera was soliciting sex.
It is further alleged that the three then accused Mukorera of having a relationship with Machaya’s wife.
The three began assaulting him with a log until he died. They allegedly stole US$283, a pair of brown shoes and an Itel phone from the deceased.
The suspects then took Mukorera’s body and dumped it in an open space at the growth point.
A passerby saw Mukorera’s lifeless body and informed the Police who conducted investigations leading to Chekungwara’s arrest.
She then implicated the other accused persons including Chiwira.

Murder Suspect Released On ZWL$20 000 Bail

A Mukuru shop at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka was robbed of US$10 058 and ZAR35 000 cash by three armed robbers on Monday.
Police said the three suspects robbed a 20-year-old motorist they had hired on the pretext that they wanted to travel from Jerera Growth Point to Devure Business Centre.
The suspects, who were armed with two pistols, robbed the motorist of a cellphone, US$13 cash and a Toyota Passo vehicle which they later used as a getaway car after robbing a Mukuru shop.
In a statement, police said the stolen vehicle was recovered. Police said:
<blockquote>
Police in Masvingo are investigating a case of armed robbery which occurred on 05/12/22 in Zaka.
Three unknown suspects armed with two pistols stole a cellphone, US$13 cash and a Toyota Passo vehicle, registration number AEQ 062 from a motorist (20) they had allegedly hired from Jerera Growth Point, Zaka to Devure Business Centre.
The suspects used the stolen vehicle as a get-away car and pounced at the Mukuru shop at Jererera Growth Point where they stole US$10 058 and ZAR35 000 cash.
The stolen vehicle was recovered. Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police station.
</blockquote>

Mukuru Shop Robbed Of US$10 000 And ZAR35 000

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported that police officers shot a member of a 4-member gang that descended on Jerera Growth Point in Masvingo and robbed a family of some properties.
The suspect was shot in the armpit and died while his accomplices escaped. Police said in a statement:
<blockquote>
The ZRP is investigating two armed robbery cases which occurred at Jerera G/point, Masvingo on 15/10/21 at about 0159 hrs, where four unknown suspects armed with an unidentified pistol, pick, wooden broom and a log stormed a home and demanded cash.
They were given US $1000, ZAR 400, four cellphones and two inverters. The complainant made a quick report to Police and as the scene was being attended to, another report was received. Police swiftly attended the scene and met the quartet at the doorstep.
A shootout ensued before the suspects scaled over the pre-cast wall and one suspect who was carrying the loot in a satchel bag was shot on the armpit and died while others escaped. 
</blockquote>
The statement added that the police recovered all the stolen property except for the two inverters.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw">Pindula News</a>

Robber Shot And Killed During Shootout With The Police

A senior ZRP officer reportedly assaulted a teacher from Chiredzi Primary School and broke his nose or nasal cavity which led to the former seeking medical attention since he has been bleeding continuously, Masvingo Mirror reports.
The teacher, Godwell Maposa had reportedly asked the police Boss who runs a bar at Jerera Growth Point why he was instructing bars to close while he was holding a beer in his hand. The police officer reportedly is in the habit of closing all other outlets before closing time and he reportedly leaves his bar open.
According to the publication on the fateful day in question which saw Maposa’s nose being broken by the officers:
<blockquote>He( the senior police officer) is said to have done the same and went and shut Chademana Bar where Maposa was drinking from. Maposa allegedly asked the senior Police officer why he was closing bars and yet he (the senior Police officer) was holding a quart in his hand.
This infuriated the Police boss who ganged up with several junior officers and then followed Maposa. They forced him to pull out of the road and allegedly assaulted him all over the face with clenched fists and booted feet.</blockquote>
Narrating the incident, to the publication, Maposa said:
<blockquote>I was thrown into the back of a Police truck and slept in holding cells. I was released on Sunday at around 2pm after I paid admission of guilt fine and the bleeding has been going on for the past five days,</blockquote>
The police officers reportedly used teargas to disperse patrons at the Chademana Bar. Maposa has since been transferred to Parirenyatwa hospital for a nasal cavity operation.
More: <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/police-boss-breaks-chiredzi-teachers-nose-over-beer/">The Masvingo Mirror </a>

Police Officer Breaks School Teacher's Nose In Chiredzi

William Zivenge, a man who wanted to become a member of parliament for Zaka West using the MDC Alliance card in 2018 has reportedly dumbed the MDC Alliance camp and joined Zanu PF, The Herald reports.
According to the publication, Zivenge and a group of other MDC Alliance members dumped their former party by symbolically surrendering their MDC Alliance regalia at a Zanu PF intra-district meeting held at Jerera Growth point.
Zivenge’s defection to Zanu PF was  confirmed by Zanu PF provincial secretary for Finance Robson Mavhenyengwa who reportedly said this to the publication:
<blockquote>
He (Mr Zivenge) first wrote a letter to the party’s leadership in Zaka indicating his intention to join Zanu PF together with other party members and we deliberated it with our provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira, resulting in their admission into Zanu PF as ordinary card-carrying members. 
We made it clear to Mr Zivenge that he will have to start from the grassroots in the cell structure of our party and will have to rise up on merit over time. The defection by these MDC Alliance members was not forced, but they voluntarily joined Zanu PF because we are a party that delivers and Zaka is an impenetrable fortress of the ruling party.
They were very clear that yes there are hardships in the economy, but Zanu PF is better because there are tangible results on the grounds of programmes and projects that seek to change living standards of the people. Everyone acknowledges the impact of sanctions on the national economy, but there is something being done on the ground to improve the people’s welfare.
</blockquote>
The development comes after MDC T armed by a supreme court ruling is on a path to decimate the MDC Alliance, recalling the latter’s MPs and taking over the later’s offices and receiving money meant for the MDC Alliance through the finance act from parly.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/defections-hit-mdc-a-in-zaka/">The Herald  </a>

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