Mugabe’s Chief Seizes Farm, Evicts 31 New Farmers
By Professor Matodzi Harare, August 21, 2012 – A traditional leader in
President Robert Mugabe’s home province has seized a farm which was under
occupation by 31 “new farmers” since 2001.
Stanley Mhondoro, the reigning Chief Zvimba, has taken over Lion Kopje farm
in Mashonaland West Province after officials in Local Government, Rural and
Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo’s office withdrew the new farmers’
title to the farm.
The villagers were recently served with eviction notices by Zvimba District
Administrator identified as Tizora, who indicated that their removal was to
accommodate Mhondoro.
Perturbed by the eviction, the new farmers are now pinning hopes on the high
court which was petitioned last week with an order seeking to interdict
Chief Zvimba from chasing them away from occupying the farm.
According to the villagers, Mhondoro has no basis to occupy the farm, which
they seized from its former white commercial farmer in 2001, because a
committee overseeing the allocation of land in the province had advised them
that the traditional leader could not be accommodated on the farm.
“The farm was pegged to 31 A1 subdivisions. The farm is 623 ha in extent. Mr
Mhondoro’s offer letter entitles him to 350 ha of Lion Kopje. This leaves
271 ha for the 31 beneficiaries. This translates to an allocation equivalent
to 8.74 ha for every beneficiary. There is no room for the A2 subdivision of
the farm. The DLC (district lands committee) should consider allocating Mr
Mhondoro a subdivision elsewhere,” reads part of a report compiled by the
Ministry of State Security in President Mugabe’s office which was
responsible for parcelling out land in 2007, which was seen by Radio VOP.
The villagers, who charge that Mhondoro is using his political muscle to
occupy the farm, say they should be allowed to leave Lion Kopje in April
next year after harvesting their tobacco crop.
They contend that they have not been given sufficient notice to vacate their
farm given that they own immovable property, granaries and animals and had
made preparations for the next tobacco farming season.
“We stand to be prejudiced and suffer irreparable harm by such a move,”
reads part of the court application.
In addition, the “new farmers” charge that Wix Wichen farm, which the
authorities want them to occupy after their eviction from Lion Kopje, is a
“forest”.