A simmering land dispute in Mhangura constituency has left
three people seriously injured from gunshots after a foiled land invasion on
Tuesday night.
The three were part of a group that had waged an illegal
land invasion at Ridziwi Farm, belonging to the late and former Chief Secretary
to the President and Cabinet, Dr Charles Utete.
The farm, which was acquired during the
willing-buyer-willing-seller period around 1993, measures at least 8 000
hectares.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector
Ian Kohwera confirmed the incident, but could not give more details as he was
still awaiting reports from the Criminal Investigation Department officers who
dealt with the matter. There were also unconfirmed reports that the shooter was
supposed to appear before Chinhoyi magistrate facing attempted murder charges.
According to police sources, the farm caretaker and nephew
to the late Utete, Noah Makaotsa Johny Mangodo, opened fire on at least 10
villagers who had invaded the farm resulting in the injury of the three.
Mangodo is believed to be running a thriving cattle
ranching project at the farm. It is also alleged that the shoot-out followed
several patrols and arrests of illegal settlers by police in Mhangura.
“At least 47 people who had settled themselves illegally at
the same farm were arrested recently. They had also paid a local land baron US$50 to be
allocated the pieces of land,” said the source.
Meanwhile, boundary disputes have also taken a nasty turn
in the same constituency between Gudubu and Kanenje villagers in Ward 3 and
Ward 11, where bloody fights have allegedly
ensued over grazing lands.
Herald
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