The
move
by
Umzingwane
Rural
District
Council
affects
households
accused
of
occupying
land
that
was
not
officially
designated
for
residential
settlement.
Council
officials
say
some
homes
were
built
too
close
to
electricity
power
lines,
while
others
were
constructed
along
river
banks,
making
the
areas
unsafe
for
habitation.
But
residents
dispute
the
classification,
saying
many
families
have
lived
in
the
area
for
more
than
20
years
and
have
consistently
paid
rates
to
the
council
during
that
time.
Several
settlers
who
spoke
to
CITE
on
condition
of
anonymity,
fearing
victimisation,
said
they
had
never
been
told
their
homes
were
located
in
undesignated
areas.
“We
have
been
living
here
for
the
past
20
years.
Over
the
years
we
have
been
paying
our
rates
religiously
to
the
council.
No
one
ever
as
little
as
hinted
that
we
are
living
in
undesignated
areas,”
said
one
resident.
“If
there
was
a
problem
with
us
staying
here
they
should
have
told
us
years
ago.
Why
did
they
continue
to
take
our
money
for
rates?
Now
they
are
suddenly
labelling
us
illegal
settlers.”
Another
resident
said
the
amount
being
demanded
was
beyond
the
reach
of
most
families,
particularly
given
the
30-day
deadline
for
payment.
“We
are
being
told
to
pay
US$580
within
a
short
period
of
time.
Many
of
us
do
not
have
such
an
amount
of
money
readily
available,”
the
resident
said.
“Some
families
are
struggling
to
provide
their
daily
needs,
so
raising
such
a
large
amount
in
just
a
few
weeks
is
extremely
difficult.”
Some
traditional
leaders
have
also
questioned
the
council’s
move,
saying
the
settlers
were
originally
granted
permission
to
live
in
the
area
by
local
chiefs.
One
traditional
leader
said
residents
were
not
charged
for
the
land
but
were
instructed
to
pay
their
rates
to
the
rural
district
council.
“The
local
chiefs
granted
the
people
permission
to
stay
in
these
areas.
They
were
not
charged
any
money.
They
were
advised
that
if
they
were
staying
there,
they
should
pay
their
rates
to
the
council,”
the
leader
said.
“Most
families
invested
in
well-built
homes
believing
they
had
obtained
legal
spaces.”
The
leader
added
that
the
council
now
maintains
the
settlers
should
have
obtained
the
land
directly
through
the
RDC
rather
than
through
traditional
authorities.
Efforts
to
obtain
comment
from
the
council
were
unsuccessful,
as
phone
calls
to
Umzingwane
Rural
District
Council
went
unanswered.
However,
an
audio
recording
from
a
recent
community
meeting
obtained
by
CITE
suggests
officials
insist
the
relocations
are
necessary
because
some
homes
are
located
in
areas
considered
unsafe.
“Some
people
here
are
staying
at
places
that
are
not
fit
for
settlement.
Some
are
too
close
to
electric
power
cables
while
others
built
their
homes
on
river
banks.
They
have
to
move
for
their
own
safety,”
an
RDC
representative
told
residents.
The
official
also
said
paying
the
penalty
would
not
automatically
guarantee
relocation
to
another
area.
“You
also
need
to
understand
that
paying
the
stipulated
fine
is
not
an
automatic
confirmation
that
you
will
be
relocated
to
a
suitable
area,”
the
representative
said.
“Some
will
get
new
places
to
stay
but
some
may
not
get
them.
But
the
penalty
will
have
to
be
paid.
We
will
be
working
with
law
enforcers
to
ensure
that
everyone
complies.”