Zanu PF militia invades farm
Sunday, 14 August 2011 19:00
BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE
A senior MDC-T official, whose farm was invaded by Zanu PF members and war
veterans in Nyanga in May, has appealed to the Joint Monitoring and
Implementation Committee (Jomic) to intervene.
MDC-T Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee rapporteur Charles
Nyamutowa said the invasion had seriously affected farming operations at his
23-hectre commercial plot in Juliasdale in Nyanga.
In a letter to Jomic dated August 4 2011, Nyamutowa said it would be
extremely difficult to repay a US$12 000 loan he acquired from a local
commercial bank as the Zanu PF militia has already set up a base on his
plot.
“Upon seeing this agro-business thriving, Zanu PF supporters established a
base at the farm in May, disrupting farming operations,” said Nyamutowa, who
added that Zanu PF supporters were being led by a traditional leader, one
Jimmy Bhande.
“As we speak now, this person has caused pandemonium in Ward 27 and 24,
terrorising MDC-T supporters,” Nyamutowa said.
Bhande, who is said to have vowed not to leave the plot, could not be
reached for comment last week.
Nyamutowa said he had planted potatoes on one and half hectares, opened
roads, built houses, bought 14 sheep, 21 goats and four herd of cattle. He
had just cleared another two hectares in preparation for planting potatoes.
“Right now, they are trying to chase me and six other families from this
area,” he said.
Nyamutowa, who is acting councillor for Ward 29 Nyanga Township, is part of
the 23 people charged with political violence against Zanu PF supporters in
Nyanga.
He spent weeks in remand prison early this year together with Nyanga North
legislator Douglas Mwonzora and 82-year-old Rwisai Nyakauru, a headman who
later died from injuries after severe torture.
Jomic spokesperson Joram Nyathi on Friday said the complaints and monitoring
body had not received the complaint.
Jomic was formed to ensure the implementation, in letter and spirit, of the
Global Political Agreement (GPA) and act as a conduit for complaints as well
as promote an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding between parties.