By Owen Dhliwayo,
In a move aimed at promoting economic growth and development, the Chipinge Rural District Council (CRDC) started a stakeholder engagement and consultations on 29 June 2024 for the upgrading of Checheche growth point to town status.
The proposed upgrading is expected to bring about improved infrastructure and services, but it has also raised concerns among villagers who fear pending eviction from surrounding communal lands.
For many people around Checheche area, the upgrade is a welcome development that promises to transform their lives.
A shop owner at Checheche business center, who declined to be named, said the upgrade is a great opportunity for our commercial sector as it will increase services and business activities.
“We expect to see improved roads and increased access to basic services such as water and electricity,” said the shop owner.
Despite being an improvement in services, the upgrade of the business center, which will improve the growth point through proper urban planning and restructuring, has been viewed by other villagers as disenfranchisement for some community members who fear that the expansion might lead to possible evictions from their communal homes.
“We are worried that we may face forced evictions to pave way for the expansion of the business center. Due to the upgrade, the council is encroaching on communal lands, making us vulnerable since we do not have safety nets to protect us. We fear being forced to vacate our homes and be relocated to unknown areas,” said Sekai Simango, a villager near the business center.
According to Platform for Youth and Community Development Director, Claris Maduku, the fear of eviction cannot be ruled out. In February 2024, approximately 700 villagers from Mahachi Village appeared before Chipinge Magistrates court over a land dispute with Chipinge Rural District Council.
The villagers were charged under ‘Sec 24(1) of the Regional, Town and Community Planning Act Chap 29:12’ and were arrested in connection with a case of unlawful carrying out development without permission.
“These fears are yet to be dispelled as the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement has not been laid down by the local authority in ensuring that the upgrade process truly benefits all parties in the surrounding areas,” Madhuku said.
An official from the Chipinge Rural District Council, [name withheld], said they are aware of the concerns of the community and are making efforts to ensure the upgrade is beneficial to all the community members.
“We understand the concerns and fears of the community and want to assure them that we will work together to ensure that the upgrade benefits everyone. That is why we are undertaking stakeholder engagement and consultation,” said the Chipinge Rural District Council Official.
Checheche was granted growth point status in 1982 through the Transitional National Development Plan, with 1055 hectares of land provided for the growth point. With the proposed upgrade of the growth point, more land will be required to cater for the town status, thereby exposing villagers to eviction.
