War veterans share ‘stolen’ cattle
Saturday, 01 October 2011 19:01
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU AND KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
BULAWAYO — Zanu PF structures in Nyamandlovu last week allegedly shared
cattle stolen from white commercial farmers in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland
North province amid reports that some of them got as much as 10 head of
cattle each. Sources in the province said war veterans and Zanu PF
supporters have all along been stealing cattle from white commercial farmers
being chased away from their farms in Matabeleland’s most productive region.
Zapu national spokesperson Methuseli Moyo said members of their party in
Nyamandlovu told them that police and veterinary officers were forced to
prepare the paperwork that created the impression that the cattle were stray
animals before the loot from the evicted white farmers was shared among Zanu
PF loyalists in the district.
Moyo described the incident as stock theft.
“As Zapu, we can confirm that we have received reports from our structures
in Nyamandlovu that Zanu PF supporters are now sharing cattle they have all
along been stealing.
“They are hiding behind statements that these were stray cattle yet it is
known that they are the ones who have been stealing the cattle.
“It is very disturbing. Stray cattle are auctioned publicly and not in this
way and the local authority must benefit from the money.
“As far as we are concerned it is stock theft. Those involved should be
arrested,” Moyo told The Standard last week.
War veterans and Zanu PF activists stand accused of invading farms primarily
to loot property as they had no skills in commercial farming as witnessed by
a drop in production outputs, resulting in the country surviving on food
imports.
Most farmers have lost hope of fighting the government in a bid to repossess
their farms or get compensation as the Sadc Tribunal, which had always ruled
in their favour, was suspended early this year.
The Tribunal in November 2008 ruled in favour of 78 white farmers who were
challenging President Robert Mugabe’s land reform programme on the grounds
that it discriminated against them on the basis of race.
Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu, who is the legislator for
the area, though confirming the development, shifted the blame to police
saying they were the ones sharing cattle seized from white commercial
farmers.
“The only thing nearer to what I heard is that it is police officers who
shared the cattle among themselves.
“Why don’t you call the police and find out because it is Zanu PF people who
were complaining over that,” Mpofu said in an interview.
Officer commanding Tsholotho District, under which Nyamandlovu falls; Chief
Superintendent Johannes Gowo however dismissed the allegations as false.
“There is nothing like that. Those are false allegations. We don’t have
anything like that in our area,” he said.