About 1 000 Masvingo villagers who were recently evicted by government from land they had occupied since 2000 have vowed to contest the move.
This comes as their lawyers said government did not follow the law in ejecting the families from the land near Sikato area in Masvingo West.
The villagers were given seven-day notices to vacate the land or face arrest and prosecution.
The families, from seven villages — Muza, Chikutuva, Manunure, Makasva, Banga, Sithole and Marikutira — have been living at Mzaro Farm, which used to belong to a white former commercial farmer before it was parcelled out to the villagers.
The eviction notice, dated January 8, 2019, but stamped November 13, 2018 and signed by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement ministry secretary, Ringisai Chitsiko, read: “You are hereby given seven days to vacate Mzaro Farm, Masvingo province. You are violating section 3 of the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act, Chapter 20:28; Gazetted Land Act in that you are occupying the said property without lawful authority.”
“You are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate the property on or before January 15, 2019. Failure to vacate on or before this date will result in your arrest and prosecution.”
No alternative place for resettlement or compensation has been offered by government.
One of the villagers’ representatives who requested anonymity, fearing retribution, said they were mobilising to engage lawyers to block the move.
“We do not have anywhere to go and we feel we have been unfairly treated. We are not folding our arms.
