Detained farmer released after third weekend in custody
By Alex Bell
28 February 2012
A former Lowveld farmer who was arrested in connection with his attempts to
keep hold of his retirement home was finally released on Monday, after
spending his third weekend in jail.
74 year old Peter Hingeston was arrested almost three weeks ago after
failing to appear in court as part of the four year battle he has fought to
secure the rights to his Vumba home.
Hingeston was forced off his Lowveld sugar cane farm in the mid 2000s and
‘retired’ to a house and plot of land in the Vumba Mountains. But it’s
understood that a top Mutare police commissioner wants the property for
himself and, in an attempt to get rid of Hingeston, has charged the farmer
for refusing to vacate ‘State’ land.
Hingeston’s missed court appointment earlier this month was on medical
grounds, and he was arrested that same day for ‘contempt’. He was held
behind bars until Monday afternoon, with repeated delays stopping his bail
hearing.
On Monday his hearing was finally heard and he was released on US$50 bail.
His case for allegedly occupying ‘State’ land illegally will continue next
month.