MASVINGO — Some 500 families earmarked for displacement to pave way for a cement plant to be established by a Chinese company in Masvingo West under Chief Fortune Charumbira’s area have accused government of keeping them in suspense for close to nine months, saying the delay had stifled their projects.
By Tatenda Chitagu
The discovery of rich limestone deposits in the area last year triggered the establishment of the plant by the Zimbabwe Zhing Zhong Cement Company. The firm is set to inject millions into the project and resuscitate Masvingo’s waning industrial fortunes.
But the villagers say they want compensation first before they are moved, fearing a repeat of the Tokwe Mukosi Dam flood survivors’ scenario.
About 18 000 villagers living in the Tokwe Mukosi Dam catchment area were hurriedly moved and evacuated last year in February after the area was flooded.
Most of the families were initially housed at Chingwizi Transit camp and later relocated to Nuanetsi Ranch in the arid Mwenezi district where there were inadequate sanitation and water facilities.
Jane Bhuka, one of the estimated 2 500 people set to be displaced by the cement project said she was failing to plan for the coming summer cropping season as government has kept them guessing.
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“We are now a tormented people. First, we do not know who will be affected? Second, where and when will we go and whether or not we are going to get compensation,” Bhuka said.
“There is need for careful planning and we want compensation first, otherwise we will be doomed, if the case study of our neighbours affected by the dam construction [Tokwe Mukosi] is anything to go by.”
Another villager said government will not be able to address their concerns when it is grappling with the Chingwizi villagers.
“If government is grappling with such a number of people displaced by what will become the biggest dam in the country, what about a small group like ours which is being moved for just a small cement plant? “We will be forgotten and government will have to first deal with those affected by construction of the dam,” another villager said. Efforts to contact the company to establish how much they will inject into the project and how many people are set to benefit from employment hit a snag as the company details were kept under the lid. Masvingo Rural District Council chief executive officer Martin Mubviro said they will soon give the company a licence once it fulfils all the necessary requirements. Mubviro, however, said he could not comment on the relocation of the villagers as feasibility studies were yet to be done to establish how many will be affected on and off the site. “We are not yet sure about the numbers of people to be displaced as feasibility studies are yet to be done,” Mubviro said. Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, Shuvai Mahofa, could not comment on whether government has already identified alternative pieces of land to resettle the villagers as she was continually said to be in meetings.
