A BOOM gate and boundary fence separate Triangle Limited’s sugarcane fields from Nuanetsi Ranch’s Chingwizi camp where the Government resettled people from Uzunga and Gororo to pave way for the construction of the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam.
There is deep contrast between the Triangle Limited’s vast sugarcane fields and the other side which is mostly dry land.
The green on the Triangle Limited side begins with the sugarcane fields that pass through the mill and Tongaat Hullet grounds which are green and watered regularly.
The lushness extends to the golf course just off Tongaat Hullet where affluent whites and blacks can be seen swinging their golf clubs.
On crossing the boundary fence, one gets into Chingwizi Camp, a land so dry and hot.
The boom gate and boundary fence are reminiscent of the disparity that existed between white commercial land and reserves before the Land Reform Programme.
The big green boom gate is manned by uniformed guards that make it appear difficult to enter or leave the camp.
Chingwizi Camp is huge with scattered homesteads from area ‘A’ to ‘E’ catering for the displaced thousands of people.
The white and blue tents distributed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) when people first moved to the camp make-up the majority of the dwellings.
Families were allocated a hectare and some four hectares to set up new homes.
Those who moved in earlier and did not waste time resisting the inevitable have built beautiful houses on their four-hectare pieces of land.
But have the people of Chingwizi been forgotten?
Stories are awash in the press that the people in the camp have been forgotten.
Speaking to The Patriot during a recent visit to Chingwizi, Keresina Pedzisai said the promises made when they moved to the camp have not all been fulfilled.
“When we moved here they promised to have irrigation systems connected so that we could grow crops, but they have not done that,” Pedzisai said.
“They promised to give us four hectares of land so that we could build our homesteads, but some government officials have come here and told us that the one hectare pieces of land they allowed us to stay on are not permanently ours.
“We have been instructed not to build permanent structures and this is the reason why you see us living in tents that we got from donors and these pole and dagga houses.
“It is a tricky situation.”
Pedzisai said it had become difficult to do any proper planning because they were not sure of their status on the land.
“We are told that we can be moved anytime,” she said.
The people previously staying in Tokwe Mukorsi were moved over 100 kilometres to Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi from Uzunga and Gororo areas in October 2013.
Despite their concerns of leaving their ancestral lands, they had to pave way for the construction of a dam whose water is critical to the development of the community.
The Tokwe Mukorsi Dam is one of Government biggest projects which, among other things, is expected to support massive agriculture.
Priced at US$156 million and constructed by Salini Impregilio, the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam has a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres making it the largest inland dam.
Covering 9 600 hectares, the construction of the dam meant that at least 3 000 families would be displaced.
However, the families were compensated.
Compensation ranged from US$900 to US$48 000.
Whether or not they all got the compensation is not known.
The compensation was computed against the property that one had in Tokwe Mukorsi.
Also speaking to The Patriot, Taodzekwa Chigume said life in the new area was not rosy at all as they were struggling to make ends meet.
“I have seen my family struggling to get food,” Chigume said.
“My wife buys tomatoes in bulk and sells them for us to get food.
“I have no idea where I could get a job but if Triangle Limited was recruiting perhaps I could go and get a job so that I can provide for my family.”
Attempts to grow maize in the area have been futile because of the low rainfall patterns in the area.
Apparently some said life was now better after Government allocated people one hectare plots to build homes in Chingwizi.
The cows which some of the people in Chingwizi Camp have are kept around the Runde River where there are better pastures on.
The Tokwe-Mukorsi Primary School is currently providing education to children although they are learning under trees and in tents since only one classroom block was built.
High schoolchildren however, have to travel over 10 kilometres to Nyuni Secondary School.