UK nurse and husband seize Zimbabwe farm
October 4, 2011 1:14 pm
By Staff Reporter
A Zimbabwean nurse registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the
United Kingdom is at the centre of a political storm after she and her
husband were named in the seizure of a white owned farm in Chegutu.
Zanu PF militants like this are normally used to intimidate white farmers
off their land
Zanu PF militants like this are normally used to intimidate white farmers
off their land
Irene Zhanda who is reported to have worked for a West London hospital for
over 5 years and her husband Hudson Zhanda are behind an eviction notice to
Beatrice commercial farmer Wayne Greaves and his 84 workers. The farmer was
told to leave the property by the end of the week.
Wayne Greaves and his staff are in the process of moving their belongings
off Enondo B farm, after the eviction papers were served by a sheriff of the
court last Friday. That same court sheriff warned that he would return this
week and anyone left on the property would be arrested.
An ‘offer’ letter for the farm was first served on Greaves in February. The
offer letter was in two names, Hudson Zhanda and his wife Irene Zhanda. At
the time Greaves went to see the Governor in Marondera and explained that he
had already given up two farms 2002, leaving him with Enondo B, where he was
allowed to continue farming.
According to John Worsley-Worswick from Justice for Agriculture (JAG), this
formal agreement was then set aside to allow the offer letter holder,
Zhanda, to take over part of the land.
But this has since changed with Zhanda dragging Greaves to court in order to
take over the whole property. The case was heard and letters of support for
Greaves were all submitted, including letters from the Governor, the
Provincial Administrator, the War Veterans’ Association Chairman and the
chief lands officer.
In the hearing, the Judge also suggested that a letter of support would also
be needed from the Minister of Lands. A letter was then duly written by
Minister Herbert Murerwa agreeing with the Governor’s recommendation, which
was subsequently submitted.
But despite these letters of support, the Supreme Court has now backed
Zhanda. JAG’s Worsley-Worswick told SW Radio Africa that Supreme Court
Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku last week signed the eviction notices for
Greaves and his staff.
“We are pretty horrified. This is the first time that a Judge has signed
eviction notices individually for workers. Wayne’s concerns are all about
the welfare of his workers, because what do they do now?” Worsley-Worswick
said.
An appeal is now being voiced for support for Greaves, his 84 farm labourers
and their extended families, a total of more than 450 people, set to lose
everything. Nehanda Radio.com/ SW Radio Africa