WAR veterans’ minister, Monica Mavhunga, came to the rescue of Saratoga farm settlers who were close to being evicted on Christmas Eve in an unsanctioned operation.
Saratoga is located 46km from the capital Harare along Shamva Road in Goromonzi district.
The land grab attempt took place on December 24.
A team consisting of cartographer Chasauka Sumburero, Traditional leader Alious Chafungamuroyi Sithole and National Lands Inspectorate’s Godfrey Muza allegedly went with an officer-in-charge to facilitate the farm grab.
“People from the Lands Department came together with the headman to divide land without the community's awareness, including Mudhumeni Muzambi, who used to work there,” sources close to the matter said.
According to sources, fighting over the land in question dates back to 2021 when the gang first pegged its land and later retreated.
On December 10 this year, they allegedly returned with police, Lands ministry officials and the inspectorate, but were forced to retreat.
“On December 24, those who were given land from Sumburero, along with 19 police officers, including the officer-in-charge Juru arrived with dogs and guns to address the land issue,” sources close to the matter said.
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“They urged each of us to go to our designated land, claiming they had nothing more to say and did not want to waste time.”
According to the sources, the settlers later appealed to Mavhunga to stop their eviction.
“Mai Mavhunga called them, but the officer-in-charge refused to respond,” they said.
“The Home Affairs ministry was later informed about the situation, and the officer-in-charge eventually left, but some land had already been pegged.”
Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka and Mavhunga could not be reached for comment as they were not picking up calls.
The country continues to witness farm grabs, nearly a quarter of a century after Zimbabwe embarked on a fast track land reform exercise to redress historical imbalances.
