EDITOR – THE illegal sale of land by yet another emerging grouping of land barons and Domboshava locals, who inherited the land from their parents, has caused the sprouting of haphazard settlements at undesignated areas while environmental degradation continues unabated.
The unplanned settlements have resulted in some people settling dangerously at the foot of mountains and risking their lives to landslides in the process.
Heavy rains have resulted in landslides in Domboshava and one family was lucky to survive after boulders narrowly missed their house.
But it is the environment that suffers degradation from the marauding illegal settlers.
On the other hand, the cramped settlements now face the risk of disease outbreaks like typhoid which is reported to be spreading to other parts of the country from the capital city Harare.
Back to landslides, last year a rockslide in Cheza Village, Domboshava, claimed the life of one Freddie Chiusinga, while his son Freddie Junior escaped death by a whisker.
Government must intervene and curb the illegal parcelling out of land which has prejudiced the Rural District Council (RDC) of potential revenue.
Domboshava is close to Harare and people are buying stands from criminals.
Vanhu vakungotengeserwa nzvimbo kana mujinga memakomo and this is causing serious damage to the environment, leaving people and animals’ lives in danger because this area is mountainous.
I remember last year the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) had a torrid time in Domboshava after landslides rocked the area.
And the challenge now is that people are still selling land which is not suitable for human habitation.
People are now staying at the foot of mountains with others on river banks hence exposing people’s lives to danger in case of natural disasters.
I would also want to believe traditional leaders in Domboshava are involved in parcelling out land illegally.
With the proliferation of illegal settlements continuing unabated, it is time local authorities seriously looked into the matter in order to save the environment.
Government must seriously look into this issue because land degradation is slowly destroying Domboshava.
The place used to be beautiful, but all is changing because of the love of money.
Lucy Mharapara,
Domboshava.