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Melody Baya Chronicle Reporter
ABOUT 50 children from more than 28 families who were evicted in 2013 from Lizzie Farm, just outside Bulawayo, have for the past three years been not going to school after they were resettled in an area where the nearest school is more than 25 kilometres away. The families were moved to Downsdale Farm located on the outskirts of Bulawayo by the government following their eviction by the farm’s owner.

“Our children both of primary and secondary school-going age haven’t been attending school for the past three years after we were evicted from Lizzie farm. Every child you see here isn’t going to school. The previous school they used to attend when we used to live at that farm is more than 25 kilometres away from here,” said Lillian Nleya, a villager.

“We’ve had no choice but to let them sit at home because there’s no other solution unless the responsible authorities intervene.” The villagers said they have had no water supplies for the past three years and were also desperately in need of food and a clinic in the area. “We depend on water from streams which are slowly drying up because of the poor rains we experienced in the area.

However, we do get some help from the neighbouring Grills farm. The owner allows us to fetch some water, but when the water is little they can only offer one bucket for each family,” said a villager, Rhoda Ngwenya.

Another villager, Agnes Kheswa, said the nearest clinic is located in Pumula South. “And because of the limited services it offers, we’re forced to move further into town and we can hardly afford that,” said Kheswa.

Members of Golden Gates Ministries yesterday donated food stuffs and clothing to community members and held prayers with them.

The Ministries’ Reverend Samuel Mabhena said the children’s failure to attend school was a violation of their rights. “This is clear oppression of the children. They’ve the right to education. These children are the future leaders of tomorrow and as such they need to be educated. If something isn’t done immediately the future is uncertain,” said Mabhena.