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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A POTENTIAL volatile situation is brewing at Shobie Block, some 80 km west of Beitbridge district, where villagers from seven rural wards are up in arms with a local businessman who allegedly fenced off their dam and grazing land.Erasmus Marema stands accused of fencing off Zhovhe Dam and grazing land for the villagers’ livestock.

The villagers say Marema who is the proprietor of Topic Funeral parlour clandestinely acquired the land and fenced off 16km2 of grazing land, thereby blocking their livestock from accessing water from the dam.

Chronicle is reliably informed that the farm, which was formerly used by Leighs for livestock production, was designated by the government in 1983 on a three tier basis to serve communities in wards 6,7, 8,9,10,11and 12.

Marema is said to have fenced the land on the strength of an offer later dated 24 September 2014.

According to the offer letter, the businessman was allocated 1162.5 hectares, which is part of Lot 10, an A2 commercial farm.

The land also encroaches into Lot 9 (Self contained) and Shobie Block (Three tier).

Disgruntled villagers have since enlisted the services of the Provincial Lands Committee (PLC) chaired by Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abednico Ncube, to resolve the disputes.

A team comprising members of the PLC toured the contentious area on Tuesday with a view to coming up with a solution.
Marema was not available at the farm yesterday.

Matabeleland South Provincial War Veterans chairperson, Cde Never Ncube, told more than 100 villagers who had gathered at the fenced area that the issue was now before the provincial lands committee.

“We’ve come here with a technical team from the provincial lands committee to look into the issue and find ways of resolving the dispute amicably,” he said.

He said it was puzzling how Marema managed to acquire the said land without going through the Beitbridge District and the Matabeleland South Lands committees.

A member of the War Veterans Council of Elders, Cde Llyod Siyoka, who is also the acting headman in the same area, called on the lands committee to resolve the dispute as a matter of urgency.

He also appealed to the angry villagers who wanted to remove the fence to  be patient.

“We can’t have a situation where our people are held to ransom by one individual. We’re saying if there’s anyone who received dirty money to facilitate the stealing of the land from the people they must return it. We’ll not rest until the matter is resolved,” said Cde Siyoka.

Marema is said to have fenced the area in November last year.