Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Zimeye
Published on 2024-02-19 08:33:42
Villagers from Matabeleland South province have recently spoken out against the inhumane treatment they experienced at the hands of the police after being arrested for the illegal occupation of State land. This comes amid a government initiative to evict “illegal” settlers from State land, with many accusing the exercise of benefiting a connected and powerful few.
The evictions have been carried out ruthlessly, leading critics to compare them to those conducted on locals by white settlers over a century ago. According to Elizabeth Ndlovu (91) from Nyandeni village, she and others were detained at a police camp overnight and denied access to food and water. “I am not feeling well, I am staying with my grandchildren who are taking care of me through proceeds from artisanal mining. We were bundled into a police truck to Gwanda Police Station last week, where I slept on an empty stomach,” Ndlovu recounted.
The situation was further exacerbated as Zanu PF Nyandeni district chairperson Bongani Mlilo expressed his concern about being treated like a second-class citizen in his own country. He spoke out about the lack of respect from the police, alleging that they were deceived with an announcement of a food distribution exercise before being arrested for illegal settlement. Mlilo also raised grievances with how they have been paying taxes for the land since 1998. He expressed dissatisfaction with the eviction exercise and the advice given to President Emmerson Mnangagwa by his advisors.
Mlilo also voiced his disappointment with the lack of support from Zanu PF provincial leaders, despite being members of the ruling party. He questioned why they were being victimized instead of being allocated another place to relocate to, emphasizing that they were peace-loving villagers who have been petitioning the lands office to regularize their stay. The affected villagers highlighted the impact of the arrests, including the suffering of women in their menstrual period, children who missed school, and those with chronic diseases who defaulted on their treatment. They also mentioned how some of them had businesses and care responsibilities that were compromised while they were in custody.
The victims’ lawyer, Mitchel Chigova of TJ Mabhikwa and Partners Law Firm, provided insight into the legal proceedings, stating that some of the arrested villagers were not homeowners and there were issues with the State papers. Due to the large number of accused persons, there was a need to reduce the numbers coming to court on any day. In addition, the affected villagers were from Insindi and Sherborne Farm in West Nicholson. However, the acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Bongani Mguni declined to comment on the matter.
In a related case, last week the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) intervened and stopped the eviction of villagers in Masvingo province who had been ordered to vacate their homesteads after their conviction for illegal occupation of State land. The villagers’ lawyers Phillip Shumba of ZLHR filed an appeal at Masvingo Magistrates Court seeking to stay their evictions from their land pending the determination of their appeal against conviction and sentence, which was filed at Masvingo High Court. Magistrate Ivy Jawona granted the villagers’ application for stay of eviction pending the determination of their appeal at the Masvingo High Court.
Overall, the situation in Matabeleland South province has raised concerns about the treatment of villagers at the hands of the police and the impact of government-led evictions on the affected communities. The lack of support from local political leaders and the challenges faced in the legal process add to the complexity of the situation. With the intervention of human rights lawyers, the affected villagers continue to seek justice and protection of their rights during this difficult time.
Read the original article on The Zimbabwe Eye
