Chegutu farmer pleads with PM Tsvangirai
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
Friday, 24 September 2010 12:49
A FRENCH national whose Chegutu farmhouse was burnt to the ground by
suspected Zanu PF supporters has expressed anger at Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai’s failure to intervene despite the property being protected by a
bilateral investment and protection agreement.
The occupation of farms protected by bilateral investment agreements is one
of the contentious property rights issues keeping investors at bay, 19
months after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
formed a coalition.
Catherine Jouineau-Meredith says she has been trying to get Tsvangirai’s
help since February last year after Zanu PF Senator Jamaya Muduvuri occupied
her Twyford farm. The farmhouse was burnt down on September 14.
“All the promises given to me personally by you and your office have stood
empty and no action has ever been undertaken to rectify all the illegalities
that have taken place since February 6 2009 when the farm was occupied by
Mr Muduvuri,” she said in a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office dated
September 21.
Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka, however, yesterday said the
premier was aware of the case and had made efforts to help.
The farm is also protected by a provisional High Court order issued on
January 27 2007.
Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President Deon Theron yesterday said the
incident was one of several that his organisation had been informed of
around the country.
“We know about the incident and the farm is indeed protected by a French
Bippa. The owners are French nationals. Of late there has been a resurgence
of violent disputes at some of the farms countrywide. We have received
reports of two or three incidents per district,” said Theron.
Jouineau-Meredith claims that she has lost 15 hectares of seed maize, 50
hectares of seed sorghum, 25 hectares of citrus, 30 hectares of sweet
potatoes, five hectares of commercial maize, 220 sheep and 26 head of
cattle.
Twyford farm was one of the farms visited by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara and a high powered inter-party ministerial delegation in April
last year in a bid to stop farm invasions. -Staff writer.