Black on black land war intensifies
Sunday, 24 March 2013 13:29
HARARE – Some of the Zanu PF shock troopers who led a violent takeover of
white-owned commercial farms in 2000 under the guise of land reform are now
singing the blues after government ordered their eviction.
At least five families out of the 44 that occupied Stonehurst Farm in
Mashonaland West’s Zvimba East constituency are scrambling after Norton
Magistrate Judith Tirivangani last week confirmed their eviction.
Stonehurst Farm has now been allocated to one Barbra Chimbadzo, who is in
possession of an offer letter from government. The evicted families say the
plot has become dirty, arguing they were used as foot soldiers to drive out
white farmers only to be kicked out themselves.
The order comes a month after the Lands ministry issued the families with
notices of eviction, which they ignored.
The February 14, 2013, eviction notice to Wellington Chimuti, Bernard
Chakaipa, Freddy Sato, Steward Mawurukira and John Malaika warned of
criminal charges if the original farm invaders failed to move.
“You are hereby instructed to vacate the farmhouse you are occupying in
subdivision 3 of Stonehurst farm immediately. The property you are occupying
belongs to Mrs B Chimbadzo who is the bona fide plot holder.
Several notices for you to vacate the farm have been given to you which you
fail to respect. This notice from this office will be left with no option
but to seek prosecution.”
This is despite the fact that the ministry of Lands had issued the four with
offer letters and Chimuti, whose late father was declared a district hero,
says he was even appointed the farm caretaker in 2005.
Chimuti, who is also Zanu PF secretary for security in Sally Mugabe
District, told the Daily News that like the other families, his future hung
in the balance as he has nowhere else to go.
“We are shocked at the sudden turn of events because we have offer letters,”
he said.
“We are the ones who invaded this farm in 2000 but since the death of my
father who was declared a hero by the State, things have changed
dramatically. They do not care about us any more as they are now concerned
with empowering their relatives. Where was Chimbadzo when we participated in
the third Chimurenga (often violent invasions of white-owned farms),”
queried Chimuti.
The eviction order has set the ministry and war veterans on a collision
course.
Zvimba district war veterans’ chairperson one M Changadzo on February 23,
2013 wrote to the district lands officer expressing disappointment at the
“failure to recognise, let alone support dependants of deceased comrades who
participated in the third Chimurenga.”
“We request your good office to take corrective measures to stop harassing,
persecuting and threatening families of our deceased gallant fighters,”
reads the letter, a copy which is in our possession. – Mugove Tafirenyika
