The Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZILAN) has released a documentary exposing land displacements in a number of communities across the country.
The documentary is titled: Our land, Our right and Untold Experiences from Chegutu, Mutoko and Chipinge.
The document was produced with financial assistance from Sida and We effect.
ZLAN national coordinator Nyasha Chiwawarirwa said the documentary was an advocacy tool to promote land rights.
She said her organisation was recording increasing cases of land disputes.
“Yes we have launched a documentary funded by our partners. There has been an increase in the threats of actual land displacements in number of communities across the country,” she said
“These remain a threat to small holder farmers whose livelihoods are solely dependent on agriculture.
“A number of factors have been flagged as key drivers of land displacements and these include a surge in mining activities, private large scale investments and urban expansion to a certain extent.”
She added: “Despite the country having a constitution and other related frameworks in place that guarantee land rights for all remain vulnerable to these land challenges particularly women whose contribution to agriculture cannot be overemphasized.”
ZLAN is a membership-based local network of farmers, farmer groups, farmer organisations and researchers.
There are several reports of beneficiaries of the land reform programme being evicted to pave way for politically-connected persons.
SOURCE : NEWSDAY
