George Maponga at CHINGWIZI, Mwenezi
GOVERNMENT has started allocating permanent plots to villagers displaced by floods at Tokwe-Mukosi with 125 families getting pieces of land at Nuanetsi ranch over the weekend. Those allocated plots were originally from Jahwa, Zifunzi and Chikandigwa villages in Chivi whose homes were submerged by flooding in the Tokwe-Mukosi dam basin.
A celebratory mood gripped the holding camp on Saturday as Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Kudakwashe Bhasikiti showed the families their plots in a move expected to ease overcrowding at Chingwizi holding camp.
Over 500 plots have been demarcated and pegged and more villagers would be allocated land soon.
Addressing the families, Minister Bhasikiti said the allocation of permanent plots showed that President Mugabe and the Zanu PF government fulfilled promises made to the families following their evacuation from the Tokwe-Mukosi basin after flooding.
“President Mugabe delegated senior Government officials among them Vice President Joice Mujuru and Senior Minister of State Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo who came here and assured you that you were going to get plots to build your permanent homes and finally it has happened and the first batch of families will be shown their plots and they are free to build homes of their choice,” said Minister Bhasikiti.
Each family would get one hectare to build a home while irrigation plots would be availed later.
He said work on building key infrastructure like roads, schools, clinics and bridges would start soon.
Minister Bhasikiti said nearly 1000 families who did not get compensation would soon be paid.
“We are going to approach the relevant authorities for funding so that Treasury allocates money for families who have not been compensated and we hope once that money is paid it will help you to build your own homes,” he said.
He said all families would soon be allocated plots.
“By the end of this week, I hope all the families would have been allocated their plots and those who were village heads before relocation are going to assist in identifying families so that gatecrashers do not take advantage and also benefit,” said Minister Bhasikiti.