FARMER KICKED OFF LAND
GOVERNMENT has given Triple S Ranch Limited 21 days to vacate part of the Musakashi irrigation project in Mufulira and also remove all centre pivots and the soya crop which is on the land. However, Triple S Ranch chairman, John Samaras told the Daily Nation that the ranch was built by his family since they received the first title on 1st October 1981. “We have employed over 150 people at the farm since and we have built schools and contributed to clinics over a long period of time in this area. We are proud to be the largest and fully developed Zambian Farm in the Copperbelt and have dedicated our lives to growing agriculture in line with the Presidents Vision for diversification,” Mr Samaras said earlier last week in reaction to claims by locals that they were being deprived on their birthright.
“The project you have referred to has been the mistake of those who had planned to put pivots on already cultivated land (with legitimate titles) rightfully owned by Triple S Ranch since 2005 and financed by Barclays Bank,” he said.
Triple S has since appealed the matter. Three weeks ago, the community in Musakashi area called for the deportation of Triple S Ranch proprietor for allegedly trying to sabotage a World Bank-funded government project which is meant to benefit more than 40,000 smallholder farmers in the area.
Triple S Ranch has been told to vacate the Musakashi because the project being undertaken was of great national importance and cannot be disturbed under any circumstances.
This is contained in a letter addressed to Triple S Ranch`s advocates ECB Legal Practitioners and signed by Senior State Advo- cate for civil litigation and debt collection unit in the Attorney General`s chamber D.M Chileshe
The letter obtained by the Daily Nation in Kitwe dated May 21, 2018 and copied to Special Assistant to the President for projects monitoring and implementation, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Lands and the Solicitor General, orders the farmer to vacate part of the land.
“We are further instructed that when the environmental impact assessment was done the affected persons who were on the ground were adequately compensated by the Ministry and your clients were not part of that group which duly disclosed their interest in the land.
“You are therefore, informed that by copy of this letter you advise your clients to vacate the said land within twenty-one (21) days from the date thereof. It is expected that by that time your client will have removed all the centre pivots and the soya crop that is currently on the land.
“We expect your client to comply with these directives as this is the final position of the government, especially that the project being undertaken is of great national importance and cannot be disturbed under any circumstances to accommodate his interest on the same piece of land.,” read part of the letter.
The Attorney General said that government had instructed him to inform Triple S Ranch that the land in question belong to the Ministry of Agriculture and has never been available for issuance to members of the public.
Further, the letter states, government had instructed that there was no surrender of the land by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Commissioner of Lands, thereby making the titles null and void.
The letter said Commissioner of Lands had conceded that the titles on the land were erroneously issued and that was the reason they were cancelled.
The community in Musakashi had accused Triple S Ranch of trying to sabotage the Irrigation Scheme by claiming the land which the multi-million project was expected to cover.
The Musakashi Irrigation project is an Irrigation Development Support Programme under the Ministry of Agriculture created to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and job creation in Mufulira and other parts of the Copperbelt.
Mr Samaras on the other hand said, “I can’t understand why our efforts haven’t been recognized for hard work and perseverance. Why should foreigners take over all our land when we can do it ourselves? We have shown that we can do it beautifully and efficiently.
There is so much land in this area – why have the planners not simply re-plan so that together with our 1400hectars already planted by Triple S Ranch – so that they can add more jobs and food security in the area?”