Villager claims political victimisation

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A VILLAGER in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North, has accused his village head and headman of pushing for his eviction from Sailor Jack Farm allegedly on grounds that he belongs to the opposition.

A VILLAGER in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North, has accused his village head and headman of pushing for his eviction from Sailor Jack Farm allegedly on grounds that he belongs to the opposition.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

Qondisani Ndlovu claimed that Maphi Dube, the village head, and Jealous Tshakalisa, the headman, have barred him from occupying his farmhouse despite a High Court ruling that directed the two not to interfere with his farming operations.

Ndlovu was resettled at Sailor Farm in 2001 during the fast-track land reform programme.

“I once took the matter to the High Court seeking an order barring the two from harassing and trying to evict me on grounds that I might be an opposition member,” Ndlovu said in an interview.

“After I was resettled at the farm with other villagers, I applied for the farmhouse through the office of the district administrator and Umguza Rural District Council and got it.

“I intended to convert it to a grocery shop, but they have barred me and villagers from occupying it.”

He claimed that he was financially hamstrung to hire lawyers to take the matter to the court, adding that police had not been of any help.

A 2006 High Court ruling issued by judge Justice Maphios Cheda granted Ndlovu authority to occupy his piece of land and farmhouse.

Ndlovu had taken the headman, village head, the police officer in charge of Nyamandlovu, and six other villagers over the matter to the courts.

“The respondents be and are hereby ordered to vacate the farm at Sailor Jack Farm within 48 hours of granting this order, failing which the officer in charge be and is hereby directed to evict the respondents,” reads part of the ruling.

“That the respondents jointly and severally be and are hereby specifically barred from evicting and interfering with the applicant’s business operations and homestead at Sailor Jack Farm.”

The village head and headman could not be reached for comment.

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