George Maponga in Masvingo
Government has accused the Development Trust of Zimbabwe of undermining efforts to relocate more than 3 000 Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi to decongest the overcrowded holding camp. Mwenezi district administrator Mr Stanley Chamisa has since been summoned by the Masvingo provincial leadership to answer charges of allegedly allowing DTZ officials to hold a series of secret and unsanctioned meetings with flood victims at Chingwizi.

DTZ owns the Nuanetsi Ranch under which Chingwizi falls and last year offered Government 68 000 hectares to resettle families displaced by Tokwe-Mukosi dam.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, last week claimed DTZ officials were influencing Chingwizi camp dwellers to resist relocation to spacious plots pegged outside the holding camp.

There are fears of disease outbreak at Chingwizi due to overcrowding as the camp dwellers are demanding compensation before relocation.
“They (DTZ) are actually fighting Government because we have reports that their officials have been going into Chingwizi camp and holding secret meetings with the flood victims and influencing them to resist relocation to permanent plots. We have reports that the DTZ officials are actually encouraging the flood victims to stay put until they receive their compensation. That is fighting Government,’’ he said.

Cde Bhasikiti added; “There are also reports that DTZ is also paying some village heads at Chingwizi so that they influence their people to resist relocation. We want to warn them that as Government we will take action against them.’’

He would not say what action Government was going to take against DTZ.
“We have the names of DTZ officials who have been illegally holding meetings with the families at Chingwizi,’’ he said.

Cde Bhasikiti said Mr Chamisa should explain why he allowed DTZ officials to hold meetings with families at Chingwizi.
“We warned DTZ officials against holding secret meetings with the flood victims but they continued and we later established that they were given permission by the DA (Mr Chamisa). We have summoned him to explain to us why he is working in cahoots with DTZ.

“The DA has to answer that question satisfactorily.’’ DTZ resident director Mr Charles Madonko denied the allegations saying the only meeting that was held had the blessings of Mr Chamisa and the police manning the holding camp.

“DTZ fully cooperates with Government’s decision to shield people from diseases by decongesting the holding camp and allocating them temporary individual plots in the Chingwizi section of the Nuanetsi Ranch as communicated to us by the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora,’’ he said.