Govt orders eviction of new farmers from Burma Valley

Comment & Analysis
BURMA VALLEY — Fifty-three illegal settlers, who claim to be A1 farmers, were last week served with eviction notices to vacate the two farms they occupied during the chaotic land invasions.  

The settlers, who invaded Burma Park and Lot 2 of Burma Valley in 2000, were ordered to leave the two farms by the end of April this year. For a long time, the settlers have been defying government orders to vacate after they were offered alternative land elsewhere.

 

Officials from the Ministry of Lands in Mutare said Burma Park was not suitable for A1 farmers because it is a water catchment area. They said people would cause massive siltation of Nyamakari River and speed desertification of the whole of Burma Valley.

The farm was therefore recommended for A2 resettlement and allocated to five beneficiaries. But the settlers are accused of disrupting farming operations by moulding bricks; stealing the fence and other valuable property belonging to the A2 farmers.

Daniel Kaswa, who is representing the families, vowed not to vacate the farm arguing that they were instructed by a spirit medium to stay put. Mutare District Administrator, Simon Sigauke, confirmed to The Standard that the families were served with eviction letters.

“Yes, I can confirm that the families were served with the eviction letters and they were given up to 30th April 2012 after they have harvested their crops. We will act on them if they refuse to vacate,” said Sigauke. “As of now, I cannot pre-empt what action we will take. We have allocated them another land elsewhere but, they are refusing to go. We will deal with the situation when the time comes.”