Maravi

Kauzu Farms squatters call for govt’s intervention

Kauzu Farms squatters call for govt’s intervention
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 5:22:39 PM

SQUATTERS that are being evicted from Kauzu Farms have called for government’s intervention into the alleged illegal eviction. One of the squatters, Kelvin Lungu, said the government should survey the area to have a sure record of the owner.

“We want the government to explain about this land, let government survey the land and if the outcome would be that it belongs to the Chirwa family then government should give us an alternative place but will also demand for compensation because of what we have done here, we came here during the UNIP government with late Mr Emmanuel Chirwa’s consent and we are not squatters because we came with the knowledge of the so-called owner,” he said.

Lungu said it was unfortunate that many families were left homeless when bailiffs swung into action, destroying houses in Kauzu Farms. And Phoebe Mulilo said it was surprising that the bailiffs started destroying houses when the people were still waiting for the surveyors.

“What we know about this issue is that it is in court. We were waiting for judgment so in May we went to see chief Chinyaku, he told us that surveyors would come in the same month so we are waiting for the surveyors up now, if this place belongs to Mr Chirwa we are not refusing to move out but we want to have a proper proof. If it will be discovered that it is not our place they should compensate us and tell us where to go,” Mulilo said. “Surely do these people care about others they came in the night and started destroying houses even houses belonging to very old people.”

And Kauzu Basic School head teacher Baron Nkhosa said the school would be affected by the eviction.

“The children at my school are affected because of the eviction that had been effected by Mr Chirwa who had earlier on promised the District Education Board Secretary that he would compromise with the people and then accommodate and now he is evicting them, they have moulded more than 80,000 bricks that are ready to be burnt but now they are being evicted that clearly shows that development will be retarded. Children must go away so the government must pass a comment because these children should either be shifted to another school so that head teachers of other schools should accommodate them,” he said.

Nkhosa said 154 out of 214 children came from Kauzu Farms.

But Kauzu farm owner Petronella Chirwa said the land could not be surveyed because it belonged to the Chirwa family and that they had title deeds.

“This is our land, it’s on title. It starts from Msekera to Madzimoyo hill up to Lutembwe, the so-called subdivision A. This land was 1,800 hectares, the subdivision they are talking about is what we sold. This side (where squatters are) there is no subdivision,” Chirwa said.

“These people were supposed to move out in 2003, they didnít do that they said there was nothing that they can do, they planted the time we went back to court they said they have already planted. 2004 came, we went back to look at the judgment, they said no.

“In 2006 before the Mayana Farms eviction they were supposed to come here but because Mayana had more problems than us, the government said can you hold on, we listened to the government, when we went back to government they told us elections are coming up, can you wait until people are settled? We waited until people got settled but now they gave themselves borders that we should not go there but we have got title deeds.”

About six houses were destroyed by the bailiffs last week when the eviction commenced.

Labels: KAUZU FARMS, KELVIN LUNGU, LAND REFORM, LAND RIGHTS, SQUATTERS

posted by MrK @ 4:23 PM