A Lubimbi village head has challenged the Government’s proposed relocation of families affected by the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, saying villagers should be allowed to choose where they resettle and receive compensation to build their own homes rather than being moved into Government-built houses at Nakanono.

Albert Muleya, a village head in Sianzema 6 in Lubimbi, said affected communities had not been adequately consulted about the relocation plans, despite Government saying the process is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Government has identified Nakanono in Lupane as an alternative settlement area and has said 806 families from Lubimbi will need to be relocated before water is impounded in the dam. Recent Government, according to the Matabeleland North State minister Richard Moyo, plans put the relocation cost at about US$28 million. There is also a proposal of four-roomed houses with kitchens for affected households.

But Muleya said villagers want a different approach — compensation that would allow families to decide where they want to rebuild their lives.

“Those people you are talking about are talking on their own, they haven’t been in Lubimbi,” Muleya said, referring to officials discussing the relocation plans.

“The minister (Moyo), I don’t know him; physically I don’t know him. He hasn’t been. He is only talking about us when he doesn’t know us. He hasn’t been in Lubimbi, as far as I know.”

Muleya said the community was questioning why families could not receive financial compensation and make their own decisions about where to settle.

“On the point of building houses, we don’t see the reason why Lubimbi people should be not given compensation in terms of money,” he said.

He cited previous relocations where affected people were given money to build their own homes.

“And then when people affected by floods in Tokwe-Mukosi were given some money, and they built their own homes. Some people, people in Lupane, were also given the money then they built their homes, instead in a given area by the government.”

“What’s wrong with that if they can give us money as well here in Lubimbi?” he asked.

Muleya said not every affected family necessarily wants to move to Nakanono, arguing that some families have relatives and ancestral connections in other parts of Binga.

“Because there might be some of us who might not like to go to Nakanono, but go to other places like Pashu, Kariangwe, or so,” he said.

“And what is the reason of us not being compensated? That is the question we are putting towards them.”

Muleya said the community has been waiting for clarity since being informed about the Gwayi-Shangani Dam relocation plans.

“That is the situation now, they have not come to this area since 2023, up to this date they haven’t come, and they are talking about relocating, building houses for us, instead of talking about compensation.”

“Then ourselves, we know what we want, and we should be given that and we build our own houses,” he said.

‘Seven years to build 17 houses’

Muleya also questioned whether Government would be able to build homes for hundreds of families within the proposed relocation timeframe.

He said villagers had seen examples of housing projects in Binga that took years to complete.

“There are some of the structures we saw somewhere around in Binga. It took us about seven years building 17 houses. Seven years,” he said.

“What more of 502? What more of 806, which are mentioned ? How long are they going to take if 17 houses can take about seven years?”

Government has recently said 806 families must be relocated before the dam starts impounding water.

Muleya said the community remained concerned about the timetable, particularly the Government’s reference to the first quarter of 2027 and year-end being the proposed final move.

“So you are skeptical about the pace?” VicFallsLive asked.

“Yes, we are just reading those first quarter, which is January, February, March, May, of the year,” he responded.

“They haven’t come to tell the people what is where. That is the situation.”

‘We are only reading about ourselves in newspapers’

Muleya said the lack of direct communication has left villagers relying on reports about their own future.

“If you can imagine, if it is you, who is only read about yourself in newspaper and not consulted, how can you feel?” he said.

He described the situation as “very bad”.

Muleya also said the community had attempted to engage local authorities over the relocation plans.

He said villagers invited the District Development Coordinator to meet them twice this month but the DDC did not attend either meeting.

The community’s concerns echo earlier reporting from Lubimbi, where villagers have repeatedly raised questions about relocation, compensation, the proposed resettlement site and the lack of clear communication.

The issue of compensation has also featured in previous community demands, with villagers seeking clarity on what they would receive and where they would be relocated.

Muleya said the community does not oppose the dam itself.

“The project is okay because it is the development of Zimbabwe. And we accepted it,” he said.

He said the community understood the wider importance of the project, particularly for Bulawayo.

“Bulawayo is our nearest big town from here in Binga.”

But he questioned why the community should not be given a greater say in how affected families are compensated and where they rebuild their homes.

“Otherwise, we don’t have the reason why they should be afraid of us,” Muleya said.

The Gwayi-Shangani Dam is being developed as a major water infrastructure project for Matabeleland and Bulawayo. Government says the reservoir cannot begin impounding water until the affected families have been relocated.