Political opportunists have been incorrectly speculating
that the scheme, approved by the local community itself as well as local traditional
leaders and the local council, would see the displacement of thousands of
villagers.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and
Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said villagers in the area earmarked for the project
by the Kwekwe-based milk processor would be incorporated into the project and
empowered as out-growers in line with Vision 2030.
Minister Chadzamira said only a few families would be moved
from their homes to pave way for some developments under the project, but will
still be settled within the same area to benefit from the game-changing venture
that seeks to modernise rural Chikombedzi.
While the land use model for Chilonga was being changed
from communal to commercial land, this would not result in relocation of people
from their ancestral lands.
The Minister berated political opportunists in the
opposition circles who were trying to gain cheap scores by misconstruing facts
in pursuit of nefarious agendas that do nothing to develop Chikombedzi.
Government had done due diligence and consulted widely with
the local community and their leadership to get their buy-in for the massive
project. The grass project would be Masvingo’s biggest investment in recent
history by private investors, transforming the rural Chilonga hinterland with
new modern bridges, roads, a railway line and a factory.
“First and foremost, as Government we want to make it clear
that nobody will be removed from their ancestral land under this US$60 million
lucerne grass project that is in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030,”
he said.
“We have a few homes that will have to moved as part of the
reorganisation that will take place as new developments take shape in the area,
but these affected people will still be resettled in the same area because we
want them all to benefit from the project as lucerne grass out-growers.”
Government had taken a keen interest in the project to make
sure that the local community were not short-charged with Vice President
Constantino Chiwenga visiting Chilonga area twice to make sure the community
were not excluded from the project.
“We don’t know the motive behind those who are saying
Chilonga people will be removed from their ancestral land to pave way for a
project to grow grass. We have made sure that our people will benefit as
out-growers and Government will not abandon its people.
“We made consultations from the lower levels right up to
the political leadership and chiefs, but there are some who are trying to make
political capital out of these consultations and spreading falsehoods.”
Under the project, measures were being put in place so that
every family benefits from the grass project which will see a new railway line
being built in the area to link Chilonga and the Nandi-Sango line.
The railway will be used to export grass to niche markets
in Dubai and China via Mozambique.
Modern roads will also be built in the area with the
investor also set to fund construction of an all-weather bridge across Runde
River on the road which links Chiredzi Town to Chikombedzi via Chilonga.
Villagers use canoes to cross the flooded and crocodile-infested
Runde River to travel to Chikombedzi or Chiredzi, the district commercial
capital.
“Thousands of jobs will also be created for locals (in
Chilonga) as a huge factory will be built to process the lucerne grass for
export. There will be a number of infrastructural developments by the investor
in Chilonga that will economically transform the area in line with Vision 2030.
“It is unfortunate that some people with hidden agendas are
using social media to distort facts and whip up emotions about a very noble
project where Government has put in place measures for a win-win scenario
between the investor and the locals,” said Minister Chadzamira.
This was corroborated by Chiredzi District Development
Coordinator Mr Lovemore Chisema who emphasised that consultations were done
with locals to get their buy-in for the project.
“We consulted all the interested parties from the villagers
themselves,chiefs and councillors and a resolution was passed in council
endorsing the lucerne grass project. The local community raised their concerns
and these were noted in coming up with the final resolution supporting the
project,” said Mr Chisema.
Chiredzi Rural District Council chair Mr Ailes Baloyi
confirmed that the local authority endorsed the lucerne grass project following
consultations with the community in Chilonga.
“Council came up with a resolution to back the grass
project in Chilonga and there were no objections. Council got assurances that
our people will benefit as grass out-growers and they supported the project,”
said Mr Baloyi.
Over 6 000ha in Chilonga will be turned into a lucerne
growing estate in northern Chikombedzi with water set to be drawn from the
confluence of Runde and Chiredzi Rivers.
In an indication of more economic benefits that will accrue
to the Chilonga community from the grass project, the investor has already
pumped funds towards the revival of Chilonga Irrigation Scheme.
The scheme was revived last year having been mothballed
since 2007 owing to water shortages after the water pump was submerged by silt
while the water abstraction point could also not continue supplying water
following a change of course by the heavily silted Runde River.
Chilonga Irrigation Scheme is now up and running and
currently plot holders are harvesting maize on 159ha where irrigation was
restored with the help of the investor.
This has already provided food security for communities in arid northern Chikombedzi. Herald
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