Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE government has reportedly told about 3,000 families settled at Chingwizi in Mwenezi district not to plant any crops this farming season as they would be moved soon. The local leaders who spoke to The Chronicle said the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo, Cde Shuvai Mahofa, told them they would be moved to farms in Mwenezi and Chiredzi.

The government evacuated the families from Tokwe-Mukorsi flood basin in Chivi to Chingwizi area in Mwenezi at the height of raging floods that destroyed homesteads and livestock in March last year.

The families said their relocation from Chingwizi was taking long.

Village head Langton Magwizi said the situation at their temporary homes was not bearable as a cloud of uncertainty hangs over them.

“There’s nothing more tormenting than for an able-bodied man to wait for handouts every time. We know that we were brought here by a natural disaster but we should be afforded a chance to fend for ourselves as normal beings through farming,” said Magwizi.

He said government officials have on several occasions visited them advising them that they would be moved to other places where there is arable land but it seems it is taking long.

“We’ve seen government officials from the province coming to Chingwizi telling us that we’re supposed to be moved to better places. They told us that the government has identified seven farms in Mwenezi and Chiredzi where we would be moved.

“We’re already in the month of August and approaching September, a month ideal for land preparation,” he said.

Elvis Chirairo said considering the short time left before the rainy season, it would be prudent for the government to let villagers till their land.

“I think it’s wise for us to be left here concentrating with our lives than being moved to yet another area where it’ll take us long to establish ourselves. We want to start producing our own food instead of begging, it’s now almost two years living on free food,” said Chirairo.

Cde Mahofa said everything was in place and the government was aware of the situation on the ground.

She said the government would not let villagers die of hunger as food aid would always be provided.

“People from Chingwizi are going to be moved in the next few weeks.We’re only waiting for a few modalities to be attended to but I can assure the affected families that their relocation to better places will be a reality very soon. Food will be provided.

“We’ve identified seven farms for the people at Chingwizi, where there’s arable land where they can do their farming without any problem. The areas have been graded and boreholes drilled. The Chingwizi area isn’t habitable,” she added.