Police have ordered former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) combatants to vacate land they occupied in Chinhoyi last week, in protest over the government’s failure to return seized properties.
The ex-combatants claim ownership of several assets taken by the government in the early 1980s, including land and buildings, following allegations of arms caches linked to ZAPU, then led by the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo. The seizures preceded the Gukurahundi atrocities.
Last week, ZPRA veterans camped in Pearview, a new suburb developed on land allegedly owned by Nitram Holdings, a company formed by former ZPRA members.
They also laid claim to Old Chinhoyi Hotel and Caves Hotel, both currently managed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks).
Canaan Sibanda, a former ZPRA fighter, said police, acting on orders from superiors, threatened to arrest them, accusing the group of attempting to embarrass the government. He said:
Some police officers came and asked us to vacate the place and threatened to beat us if we disobey the order saying they have been sent by senior police officers at the provincial offices in Chinhoyi.
ZPRA veterans purchased several properties across Zimbabwe using contributions from their demobilisation payouts, with each contributing $50, according to ex-combatant Patricia Ndlovu.
These properties, including farms, hotels, and estates, were later seized, some allegedly by senior government officials.
ZAPU and ZPRA have long demanded the return of these assets, which include Clifford Farm, Highfield Estate, Green Haven, Castle Arms, and Davies Hall, now used by ZANU PF in Bulawayo.
They are also seeking the return of a former hotel in Queens Park East, now housing over 50 police officers. Despite years of appeals, their demands remain unmet.
More: NewsDay
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