Latest farm grab: 80 workers thrown out
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
About 80 farm workers from Guy Farm and their families have been left
homeless following farm seizures by top government officials recently.
04.07.1211:41am
by Staff Reporter
Desperate former farm workers told The Zimbabwean that the farm takeover by
a senior official from the Attorney General’s office and a top female
government official deployed at the Marondera Maguta Offices, took them by
surprise.
The farm owner, Jeff Guy, had two small plots merged into one and employed
80 workers.
They invasion followed a visit to the plot by Zanu (PF) Mashonaland East
Provincial Governor, Aenias Chigwedere who came in the presence of unnamed
government officials two months ago.
“The (invaders) descended on the farm last week accompanied by officials
from the Ministry of Lands. They gave our employer, Guy, seven days’ notice
to wind up his farming activities and leave the property.
‘‘The Maguta woman the farm main house and took over control of the workers’
living quarters. She ordered farm workers and their families to vacate farm
houses immediately. As we speak, the majority of the former farm workers are
stranded at the farm as they have no alternative shelter,” said a dejected
worker.
“Guy had no option but to temporarily transfer most of the farm equipment to
Akasaba Farm for safekeeping ,’’ said one worker. A farmer only identified
as Smit is understood to be renting Akasaba after entering into a lease
agreement with the late Sabina Mugabe, President Mugabe’s sister, several
years ago. It was not clear if she had acquired the farm under the fast
track land redistribution programme or had bought it.
The Zimbabwean could not locate Guy for comment but saw some of his
household property dumped at a flat in Marondera town. Sources at the farm
said Tapedza confided in some workers that he could hardly afford farm
inputs and equipment, and would not have time for farming activities.
“I find it difficult to understand how a fellow black man could forcibly
evict poor farm workers form the land, without providing them with
alternative accommodation and employment elsewhere. Our future has been
shattered,” said another worker who only identified himself as Choruma.
Efforts to get comment from Chigwedere and the new occupiers were fruitless
as they were unavailable.