Most resettled people in the area accused the village head, Sibhono Ncube, of corruption and ill-treating them.
Staying here is very difficult because we are not treated properly, said one of the farmers who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation.
We are not treated fairly and innocent farmers are constantly being evicted by the village head who sells their stands to his friends at exorbitant prices. As it is now, more than three households have been evicted and have since been replaced by the village heads friends from his rural home in Tsholotsho.
Another farmer who also refused to be named said the village head was making a lot of money through selling stands and said authorities should intervene quickly.
He has already sold three stands, one at US$600 plus a cow, the other one was sold for R2000 and the third one was sold for a water pump, which he took to his home in Tshabanda recently.
If you have a misunderstanding with him, you will find yourself evicted. We are not happy about this and we call upon the authorities to intervene and help us in this matter, said the farmer.
One of the evicted Mrs Sibongokuhle MaNkomo Ndlovu, said she was now a destitute after the village head and his advisors evicted her from her home two months ago and sold the stand to someone.
I went to Bulawayo to visit my grandmother who was ill for a week and when I came back I found my property thrown out and someone had already occupied my home, said Ndlovu.
From that time I have been living in the bush with my two children. My husband works in Filabusi and as it is I am destitute and am now living in someones home. We reported the matter to the police and were told to go to Nyamandlovu police but we did not have the money for transport.
The headman, Mr Tshakalisa knows about this but nothing has been done. He tried to solve the issue but nothing has changed. Other evicted families have already gone. One of them went to Bulawayo and others sought alternative stands in other areas.
Post published in: News