By Munesu Nyakudya
Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has warned illegal settlers within his constituency that he will be working to have them evicted a few weeks after the Harare City Council raised a storm with demolitions in Budiriro.
The combative Parliamentarian has since released a list of alleged illegal settlers in various wards of Norton.
Some are listed below:
The illegal settlers have allegedly been sold land by various local leaders who include Council officials, headmen and Chiefs within the area.
The land invasion has resulted in the loss of pasturelands for some A1 and A2 farmers in the rural parts of Norton.
“We are going to clean up Norton and with the adept leadership of Officer Commanding DISPOL Manyame Chief Superintendent Mafoko, I have great confidence that this can be achieved”.
“My warning to all on the list is to vacate with immediate effect.
“Do not conduct any agricultural activities on the land as it will be a waste of your resources. Forewarned is forearmed”, he said.
Mliswa added that, “any illegal settlers be warned, when the evictions begin you can no longer benefit from crops grown, do not cry out seeking sympathy or help, you are there illegally and have been warned”.
Land pressure has created a breeding space for land barons and other criminal individuals who have been selling land to desperate home-seekers across the country.
Many individuals have since lost thousands of dollars to unscrupulous illegal land sellers who have often connived with Council and government officials for the illegal deals.
Earlier this month the Harare City Council began effecting court orders it won earlier this year against various housing cooperatives who have illegally settled their members in parts of the capital.
190 members of the Tembwe Housing Cooperative had their houses demolished rendering them homeless.
The Justice Uchena Land report revealed that most of the land barons who pilfered much of the state land are ZANU PF members or connected to it.
Nothing has however come of the report, delivered to President Mnangagwa in December 2019, despite its numerous recommendations to investigate and prosecute certain cited individuals and groups.
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