Fresh problems for Tokwe-Mukosi

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THE completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in Chivi faces another hurdle after thousands of families evacuated from the dam basin due to floods in February started trooping back to their old homes.

THE completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in Chivi faces another hurdle after thousands of families evacuated from the dam basin due to floods in February started trooping back to their old homes.

Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent

Scores of villagers were relocated to Chingwizi transit camp in Mwenezi at the height of the floods, but are growing impatient over delays by the government to compensate them.

“Many are leaving the camp going back to the flood basin,”Mike Mudyanembwa, a spokesperson for the flood victims said.

“They do not care if they will be affected by floods again because either way, our future is ruined here.”

The return of the villagers into the flood basin would add more problems for the contractors at what would be one of the country’s largest dams.

Construction of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam began in 1998, but suffered several stoppages. Work on the dam resumed in 2009, but construction has been suspended again due to lack of funding.

The government owes the contractor, Salini-Impregilo Joint Venture, more than $70 million.

The floods had given the government the opportunity to relocate villagers living along the dam basin numbering over 20 000. However, Chingwizi has been rocked by protests with villagers complaining against the squalid conditions at the overcrowded camp.

Chingwizi has been hit by diseases owing to poor sanitation, water and food shortages.

A diarrhoea outbreak, as well as malnutrition and sexually transmitted diseases have hit the settlement in recent months.

The government promised to compensate villagers for the damage to their property and livestock as well as improve their living conditions before resettlement.

But six months down the line, the villagers are worse off and the government has resorted to forcing them to move to one-hectare plots nearby instead of the initially promised five-hectare plots.

First, the government cut food hand-outs for those resisting to move, but the idea, widely condemned by human rights groups, did not yield the expected results as only 400 villagers complied.

Humanitarian organisations which were assisting the government later pulled out after realising the insincerity of the Zanu PF administration.

About 300 villagers were rounded up a fortnight ago in revenge attacks after police officers were attacked at the camp by the angry villagers.

Twenty nine of the flood survivors have since appeared in court over the violence and arson charges, while others are said to be still at large.