War vets declare war
By Everson Mushava, Staff Writer
Sunday, 17 July 2011 15:35
HARARE – War veterans and poor people occupying the controversial Waterfalls’
Nyarungu Estate which the High Court says belongs to flamboyant businessman,
Phillip Chiyangwa have declared war on the property dealer saying they would
rather die fighting than vacate the land.
Describing Chiyangwa as a “sheep in wolf’s clothing” the war veterans say
the bid to remove them from their “homes” is tantamount to creating a black
versus black farm grab.
The Daily News on Sunday last week visited the contested farm and discovered
the determination and zeal by the occupiers to stay put.
The battle for Nyarungu Estate and the recent invasion of a farm belonging
to Zanu PF official Tracy Mutinhiri has led to fears of a bloody black
versus black farm invasion situation.
When the land reform programme started in 2000, it was a simple case of
blacks taking away land from whites.
But judging by the recent land fights, it is now a case of what goes around
coming around.
While Chiyangwa had successfully applied for an eviction order from the High
Court, the war veterans have vowed to stay put at the disputed estate and
promised to fight off any attempt to evict them.
The businessman is arguing that he bought the land that the war veterans
took away. The war veterans have since registered a housing co-operative
known as Pungwe Chimurenga and claim that the land was gazetted by
government so Chiyangwa cannot claim it.
For the past five years, Chiyangwa had been in running battles with the war
veterans who recently protested at one of his companies, Jetmasters,
against the eviction from the land they have occupied for the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, the war veterans have made an urgent High Court chamber
application that was heard last week challenging their eviction from that
farm which they have named “Eyrecourt Township” and judgement was reserved.
The eviction was meant to be effected on June 14.
It was business as usual when the Daily News on Sunday crew visited
Eyrecourt Township on Friday.
Groups of people could be seen moulding bricks to build their houses a sign
of their determination to stay put despite Chiyangwa’s efforts to push them
out.
“We do not trust anyone who comes here, we need to prove if you have not
come to spy on us,” quipped one war veteran, adding that they were prepared
to fight everyone representing those who “wanted to grab our land.”
“Phillip hatidi kutombomuona pano (We do not want to see Chiyangwa here),”
he continued.
But after the introductions were made the war veterans started opening up
more.
One of the occupiers More Everson, said Chiyangwa barred from visiting the
farm.
He accused him of derailing the land reform programme saying they will not
obey any orders from anyone except Mugabe.
Showing how deep- rooted his hatred for Chiyangwa was, gnashing his teeth,
he said, “I will do anything in my powers to stop him (Chiyangwa) from
taking our land.
“He wants to destroy the unity of purpose within Zanu PF. He is a wolf in
sheep’s clothing and now wants to eat the sheep. We will not tolerate that
and let him know that we will fight him to the end,” he said.
Simbarashe Mafakadza, 26, a Zanu PF youth accused Chiyangwa of amassing
wealth through sell-out activities at the expense of national sovereignty.
“We know him, what was he doing during the war? Even after independence why
was he arrested? We are no stupid,” said Mafakadza.
Another war veteran said, “We are victims of Murambatsvina and after 10
years on this farm, Chiyangwa wants to bring another Murambatsvina on us. We
will teach him to respect war veterans,” said Brian Chirozva, another war
veteran, pointing at the co-operative offices named after the late Vice
President Simon Muzenda.
He said he suspected foul play in the ownership wrangle of the estate and
questioned why local government minister Ignatius Chombo has remained mum on
the matter.
“Chiyangwa should leave us alone. We are building our houses without any
help from him. He is igniting another Chimurenga,” said Paradzayi Mawariro,
a Zanu PF youth.
The leader of the co-operative refused to comment referring the Daily News
on Sunday to the District Administrator’s office.
But in the meantime, the war rages on as the feuding parties await a High
Court ruling on the matter.
Contacted for comment, Chiyangwa as has become the norm when probed on his
land deals became aggressive “I do not deal with issues that are handled by
the court, who are you, you and your useless newspaper want to be law unto
yourself.
You want to sell your newspapers using Chiyangwa’s headlines. Tell your
editor to go F**k off. Do not ever call my number again”
Blacks are now turning against each other as the fight for land intensifies.
Several land disputes involving Zanu PF bigwigs, either in an attempt to
purge some unwanted political elements in the party or through greed have
become common.
The case of Mutinhiri is a classical example.
Her farm was invaded by war veterans last week who wanted to force her out
of the farm allegedly under the orders of state security minister Sydney
Sekeramayi.
The incident came just after she had completed a tour of Manicaland province
with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
With the Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo describing her as a nobody, her
fate seems to have been sealed.
Only time will tell.