The evictees have been sleeping in the open since being dumped along highways in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. As far as we are concerned, we were given this land by the Bulawayo City Council. They removed us from our land and gave us this land, so we will stay here. If they had not given us this land, they would have just evicted us and left us outside the farm so that we find our own place to go, said Lilian Kandemiri, the leader of the settlers. We will only move here if we are going back to Emganwini Farm, where we left our crops. Other than that, we are not moving and that is the position we have taken as a group.
The development comes as it emerged that a local philanthropist, had organised accommodation at Bulawayo Shelter for one of the evicted settlers. The settlers invaded the farm three years ago under the leadership of a Zanu (PF) chief whip, but were evicted by police officers and game rangers who were armed with a High Court order issued at the end of last year.
The rangers destroyed the settlers homes before dumping them along highways outside Bulawayo.
Post published in: News