MIHR implores govt to compensate Lubimbi villagers
Providence Moyo/Trisa Ray Sibanda
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights has called on the government to avail funds for the full compensation and relocation of Lubimbi villagers in Binga who are being displaced by the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project and all communities being displaced by development projects.
The plea was among several submissions made by the non-governmental organisation at the Joint Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development and Expanded Committee on Sustainable Development Goals meeting held in Bulawayo last week.
“This includes adequate compensation for developments, social and cultural rights, and social amenities.
The Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy states that all development-induced displacements must be guided by the Relocations and Compensation Framework which currently does not exist. Therefore the 2023 budget should provide fiscal resources for the development of this framework,” said MIHR.
Six Lubimbi villages namely, Chubuyu, Chiboni, Kanjondo, Bumputu, Kamombo, and Kavunikwa will be affected.
About 2000 people from Lubimbi are set to be evicted to make way for the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani.
“The project will see the relocation of 502 families or households including a clinic, Lubimbi 2 Primary School and Secondary School. A dip tank, 60 boreholes, roads, the Shangani River bridge and other social amenities will be destroyed while arable grazing land will be lost as 2 422 people will need relocation. Culture and heritage sites such as baobab tree and hot springs where we perform rituals will be destroyed,” reads part of a position paper produced by a residents committee seen by this publication.
At a meeting attended by Community Podium that was hosted by MIHR last year, Lubimbi residents expressed fears of being relocated without guarantees for compensation.
“We are so worried by the looming relocations. Our parents went through the same ordeal that we fear may be replaying all over again. They were evicted to make way for the construction of Kariba Dam amidst false promises of relocation. Up to now, those promises have not yet been fulfilled. It has been more than 60 years since the promises were made,” said an affected resident who identified himself as Albert.
In addition to permanent housing structures, Lubimbi residents are also imploring the government to ensure that the area of relocation has access to education and other social services.
“If we are to be moved to a new area, we would appreciate having some structures like schools either already established or built for our children so that their education is not affected. Some of them are examination candidates and moving them from Lubimbi makes it difficult for them,” said Albert.
Eviction of communities from their ancestral lands has become an emotive issue with communities in Hwange, Chipinge and Uzumba crying foul at being sacrificed for development.
