Kidomole village
The move was prompted by failure of village leaders to help owners get back their land which they would use to grow sunflower, maize, cassava and groundnuts.
Speaking to journalists over the weekend on a special visit to Kidomole village, Secretary of Kidomole-based village committee Mwajuma Masood said that the villagers would like to inform all people who have purchased pieces of land at Mapanda forest that their land has been taken by taken over by Kidomole villagers and they plan to use it for agricultural activities.
The occupation officially started on August 30th this year and currently a total of 360 acres of land at Mapanda forest have been invaded and others offered to villagers at Kidomole village so that they can use it for agricultural activities.
She said they have decided to take back their land and partition it to help villagers acquire enough plots for agricultural activities.
As such, every villager will receive at least two acres of land, which they will use for agribusiness and the profits accrued would be invested in their children’s education and other family endeavors.
“Just look at our families’ situation, our children are not educated and others cannot find jobs. That’s why we need our land so that we can use it for agricultural activities and alleviate poverty in our families,” one villager said. She was speaking on behalf of other villagers at the just-ended village meeting held at Kidomole village last week.
“We want to make it clear to all those who purchased plots at Mapanda forest reserve and Chamanyani which were initially set aside by the district land department in 2010 for us to build hospital, schools and other social service centres that they are no longer allowed to use them,” she said.
She said the villagers decided to take action after realising that the government especially top regional and district officials were reluctant to help them, merely saying they would work on the issue while their land continues to be sold illegally.
Further, she said that before dividing the plots, they talked to all village leaders concerning their plans, but still they didn’t get any support.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Chairman of Kidomole village Ramadhan Mohamed said all acres of land which have been re-divided by villagers at Mapanda and Chamanyani forest reserve were owned by local government.
“All villagers who have re-divided the land which belongs to the village government are land grabbers,” he said
The village chairman has ordered them to surrender the plots, warning that failure to abide by his order would force him to take serious action against them.
However, he confirmed that acres of land at Mapanda forests have been sold to wealthy people without following the right procedures.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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