Govt orders eviction of new farmers from Burma Valley
Monday, 27 February 2012 11:16
BURMA VALLEY — Fifty-three illegal settlers, who claim to be A1 farmers,
were last week served with eviction notices to vacate the two farms they
occupied during the chaotic land invasions.
The settlers, who invaded Burma Park and Lot 2 of Burma Valley in 2000, were
ordered to leave the two farms by the end of April this year. For a long
time, the settlers have been defying government orders to vacate after they
were offered alternative land elsewhere.
Officials from the Ministry of Lands in Mutare said Burma Park was not
suitable for A1 farmers because it is a water catchment area. They said
people would cause massive siltation of Nyamakari River and speed
desertification of the whole of Burma Valley.
The farm was therefore recommended for A2 resettlement and allocated to five
beneficiaries. But the settlers are accused of disrupting farming operations
by moulding bricks; stealing the fence and other valuable property belonging
to the A2 farmers.
Daniel Kaswa, who is representing the families, vowed not to vacate the farm
arguing that they were instructed by a spirit medium to stay put. Mutare
District Administrator, Simon Sigauke, confirmed to The Standard that the
families were served with eviction letters.
“Yes, I can confirm that the families were served with the eviction letters
and they were given up to 30th April 2012 after they have harvested their
crops. We will act on them if they refuse to vacate,” said Sigauke. “As of
now, I cannot pre-empt what action we will take. We have allocated them
another land elsewhere but, they are refusing to go. We will deal with the
situation when the time comes.”