A group of suspected Zanu PF activists and self-proclaimed war veterans have seized land belonging to Zvimba Rural District Council’s Rainham Primary School, blocking a key access road and leaving teachers and pupils stranded.
The invasion has thrown the normally quiet Zvimba East community into turmoil, with villagers accusing Ward 10 Councillor Tafadzwa Kambarami of shielding the illegal settlers despite a council directive for them to vacate the land.
Rainham Primary School, which caters for over 700 pupils, sits next to Rainham Secondary School, home to 350 learners.
Both institutions are now caught in the crossfire of a politically charged land grab.
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“Teachers are now living in garages and pigsties because the illegal settlers have taken over school houses meant for staff,” fumed concerned villager Simba Gweshe.
“These people are abusing Zanu PF’s name and the councillor is protecting them.
“We want the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate this madness.”
Gweshe said police, the district development coordinator’s office, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education have all been notified but none have acted.
According to NewsDay, Zvimba RDC chief executive officer Enias Chidhakwa confirmed the illegal occupation, saying the council had served eviction notices that were being ignored.
“These people settled right on the road leading to the school,” Chidhakwa said.
“They were given land elsewhere at Sunside but sold those plots. Now they’re blocking development and refusing to move.”
However, Councillor Kambarami defended the settlers, saying they had occupied the land long before the council acquired it.
He argued that they deserve formalisation and proper stands, not eviction.
“These people including war veterans have lived there for over 15 years.
“As a councillor, I must uphold every citizen’s right to shelter. I have urged the council to offer them stands at affordable prices,” he said.
Kambarami denied protecting lawlessness, insisting that he was simply “representing the people who voted for us.”
But villagers say the so-called “war vets” are operating illegal shebeens and stealing fuel from nearby Chinese companies, all under political cover.
