Zanu PF ‘youths’ invade Mtanda’s farm
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 09:51
HARARE – About 100 Zanu PF supporters have reportedly invaded Caps Holdings
Limited (CAPS) owner Frederick Mtanda’s Winray Farm in Mashonaland West
province under the pretext that it has been “declared party property”.
While the Harare businessman was unsure about the motive of the latest
disruptions, the Mutorashanga incident forms part of a series of wanton
actions to take-over the farm altogether since government also tried to
acquire the land in recent years.
On the other hand, Zanu PF secretary for lands Ignatius Chombo yesterday
dismissed the incident, saying the party had no policy or interest to be
involved in farming directly and, therefore, the Winray overrun was illegal.
“The party has no ambition of owning farms. In fact, they have always been
allocated to individuals,” he said, adding there were also possibilities
that the “people masquerading as Zanu PF youths and women had been deployed
by the party’s detractors”.
Attempts to secure comment from party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, Rural
Resettlement minister Herbert Murerwa and Mashonaland West provincial
administrator one Mr Shumba were unsuccessful, as their mobile phones went
unanswered.
With President Robert Mugabe’s land redistribution exercise benefitting
party cronies and allies, the invaders want Mtanda out of the
highly-productive 1 600 hectare farm under a nasty twist to the chaotic
programme, which has seen black-on-black violence increase in recent years.
“This is not the first time they have done this (as) they have (also)
resettled people on the other part of the farm using the same method.
Initially, the farm was over 2 000 hectares,” the troubled businessman told
the Daily News yesterday.
A controversial character and businessman, Mtanda has also been in the news
for an alleged $25 million fraud at his drug manufacturing firm, although he
denies the charges.
Known by his wartime nom de guerre, Chillis, the ex-freedom fighter and
personal assistant to the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo has also grabbed
the headlines after clashing with several Zanu PF functionaries over Zapu
properties countrywide.
In what could be considered a cheeky political move or development in Zanu
PF circles, he has also written the foreword to Nkomo’s popular and
republished autobiography The Story of My Life, which also chronicles his
travails at the hands of Mugabe’s post-independence administration.
Zanu PF ‘youths’ invade Mtanda’s farmZanu PF secretary for lands Ignatius
Chombo. – Xolisani Ncube