Compensate displaced people — traditional leaders

TRADITIONAL leaders in the Midlands Province have called on the Government to speedily compensate all families who have been displaced by developmental projects so that they do not become landless or homeless.

Speaking at a development relocation symposium at Midlands State University’s Zvishavane Campus, which was hosted by Tugwi-Mukosi Multi-disciplinary Research Institute in conjunction with the Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT), Provincial Chiefs’ Council president Senator Chief Ngungumbane of Mberengwa District said there should be a clear compensation and rehabilitation policy for displaced people.

“There is a need for people who are displaced to pave way for developmental projects to be compensated so that they are able to rebuild their homes and restore their lives. We are appealing to the Government and its developmental partners to ensure that there is a policy that protects such people so that they don’t find themselves homeless,” he said.

He said displaced people usually face many difficulties and discomfort adjusting to new environments while some end up living in abject poverty and squalid conditions.

“When people are moved, there are various challenges and problems they face in adapting to the new environment. To cushion them from such challenges, it is therefore very imperative that our Government and development partners considers them,” he said.

Chief Ngungumbane said it was crucial that people who were being relocated were told the reasons they were being moved so that they fully understand and accept the concept of development relocation.

“Before they are relocated, it is very important that they are also told of the reasons why they have to be moved to another place. It makes them understand the whole process and its importance,” he said.

Last year, the Midlands Province crafted a policy document to avoid conflict and provide compensation for communities displaced by developmental projects.

Developmental projects such as construction of dams tend to displace a lot of people and most of them usually find themselves not coping in new environments.

The traditional leaders therefore implored with Government to consider the communities first before embarking on such projects.

A number of families who were displaced when Tugwi-Mukosi was constructed did not get compensation. — @sukusinini.