War Veterans Invade Tourist Lodges In Zimbabwe’s Eastern Nyanga Resort
Nyanga South Member of Parliament Willard Chimbetete said white-owned
tourist lodges and cottages have been the main targets of a campaign
launched by war veterans around the turn of the year
Gibbs Dube | Washington 07 January 2011
Self-styled Zimbabwean liberation war veterans have started to take over
tourist lodges in Nyanga South district of eastern Manicaland province in a
development reminiscent of takeovers of white-owned commercial farms under
land reform from 2000 on.
Sources said war veterans and youth militia aligned with President Robert
Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, accompanied by operatives of the Central
Intelligence Organization, have been seizing white-owned lodges, cottages
and other tourism facilities.
Nyanga South Member of Parliament Willard Chimbetete said the invaders, led
by a woman believed to be a former freedom fighter, have caused havoc in the
area.
Chimbetete said some of the invaded lodges are owned by foreigners. He said
the police have been informed of the deteriorating situation. A police
official refused to comment.
Reached by VOA, ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo declined to comment.
Charles Kazhenga, a local official of the Movement for Democratic Change
formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said Nyanga business
owners are now living in fear.