The Government has moved to address the plight of families evicted from Willdale Farm in Mt Hampden, Zvimba District, after the matter was presented before the Thirty Seventh Cabinet Meeting chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa earlier this week.
Cabinet received an update on the welfare of the displaced families and acknowledged that the evictions triggered a humanitarian situation requiring urgent State intervention. Emergency relief measures were immediately rolled out to stabilise the affected households who had been left without proper shelter or basic amenities.
Government admitted that the Willdale situation reflects a broader crisis linked to illegal settlements, poor land administration, and manipulation of desperate home seekers by land barons. Ministers agreed that the case must be handled decisively to prevent similar incidents across peri urban areas.
To that end, Cabinet approved an Inter Ministerial Committee bringing together key Ministries responsible for land management, housing, welfare, health, education, security, and information. The committee has been tasked to investigate the root causes of the illegal occupation, coordinate assistance for the families, and recommend a durable solution for orderly settlement planning in the Mt Hampden area.
Zvimba East Member of Parliament Hon Kudakwashe Manhanzva welcomed the Cabinet decision, saying it confirms that President Mnangagwa is a leader who listens and responds to the challenges facing ordinary citizens. He said the swift action taken shows clear sensitivity to the plight of vulnerable families and demonstrates Government’s commitment to responsible land governance.
Manhanzva said he will continue advocating for peaceful, lawful, and fair handling of land disputes in his constituency, stressing that communities should not be left at the mercy of land barons or haphazard allocations. He noted that lasting stability in Zvimba East depends on proper planning and open engagement between authorities and residents.
