Digby and Jessie Nesbitt
The Zimbabwean
Friday, 16 May 2008 10:27
BULAWAYO – A top police officer faces possible arrest on contempt of court charges after he led Zanu (PF) militias to beat up a messenger of court who was going to deliver to him, a court ruling ordering him to move out of a sugar state he invaded in January.
Zimbabwe Republic Police assistant Commissioner, Edmore Veterai is resisting to move out of N & B Sugar Estates in Chiredzi despite Friday’s court ruling. Masvingo Magistrate, Phineas Mapiye on Friday issued a court ruling, ordering the assistant police commissioner to move out of the Chiredzi sugar estate.
The farm is owned by Digby and Jessie Nesbitt who have sought the court’s intervention to force Veterai off their land. They are represented by Rodney Makausi of Chihambakwe and Makonese Ncube legal practitioners. Sources told The Zimbabwean on Sunday that a messenger of court sent to deliver a court order against Veterai on Monday was forced to flee the Zanu (PF) youth militias led by the top police officer.
The messenger of court – whose name the paper could not independently verify – was also reportedly beaten by the Zanu (PF) militias, according to authoritative sources in Chiredzi. “The messenger of court did arrive and was meant to give Veterai the court papers but he was forced to flee after being beaten by the militias who angered by the court order,’ said a source. Veterai could not be reached for comment on the matter. The lawyer representing the white farmers confirmed the development. The government has given out contrasting signals on the fate of the remaining white commercial farmers. Some government ministers have called for their outright removal while some have lobbied that the few white remaining white commercial
farmers remain on their land.
Since the seizure of white commercial farms by landless war veterans and Zanu (PF) militia, yearly food shortages set in forcing the country to rely on food imports and food handouts from international food agencies. The beneficiaries of the chaotic land reform have failed to produce adequate food for the nation due to either lack of farming expertise or farming inputs.