Farmers who have settled themselves at a farm called Deep Dene in Silobela are now homeless and facing starvation after the farm owner allegedly set fire on their property and food, it has been reported.
The illegal settlers have been playing cat and mouse games with the farm owner, identified as Molly Mulwa, since 2008 but they have now suffered double tragedy after losing their homes, property and food.
When the ZBC News visited the farm, scores of illegal settlers were sitting under a tree, pondering their next move.
From a distance they gazed at the last pieces of their properties smoldering.
The settlers confirmed to the zbc that they were not properly settled, but insisted the farm was under-utilised.
Midlands Province Minister of State, Â Jason Machaya, said families at deep the farm were illegally settled but condemned the manner in which the evictions were conducted by the farm owner.
One of the settlers representative, who is a former police officer, vowed to take the matter before the courts while addressing the other settlers after the fire.
He vowed to fight and assured other settlers that their contributions were being used to pay their lawyer as well as for transport as they try to seek recourse through the courts.
Meanwhile, Â Machaya has set up a committee to look into the matter.
Efforts to get a comment from the farm owner were fruitless.
