Faith Members Threaten Fresh Farm Invasions
Masvingo, September 11, 2011 – Johanne Masowe Apostolic Faith members
threatened to clamp down o few remaining white commercial farms as payback
for bankrolling Zimbabwe’s ageing leader, President Robert Mugabe in the
2008 disputed election.
Masvingo District Administrator (DA) James Mazvidza confirmed that his
office is trying hard to calm down more than 1000 families from Johanne
Masowe who want to invade Chidza farm located about 30kilometers east of
Masvingo town.
The Faith members claim that they were used by President Robert Mugabe
during the previous elections and are threatening to go on a rampage and
invade some farms owned by the white community in Masvingo as a payback for
their votes.
Last Wednesday, Mazvidza pleaded with the church leaders who had gathered at
Bollarnt Farm in Chidza where they were about to allocate some potions of
land to their families.
“We are aware that some people are eager to give themselves land but we are
saying the process must be legal. We are fighting hard to cool down the
church members who are about to go on fresh farm invasions”.
“I am sure they will understand us and wait until professional provincial
lands committee team is invited to assess the situation and peg the land so
that the process is not haphazard,” added Mazvidza.
However, Mazvidza said he was not aware that the church members were pushing
for land as a way of expressing their anger against Mugabe’s empty promises.
“I am not aware of their motivation to fight for land,” he said.
But one of the key members in the Apostolic sect who refused to be named
insisted that they patiently waited for Mugabe to honour his promises for a
long time now.
“We have run out of patients now, the President through his various
representatives promised us to get land once he returned his position in
2008. We voted for him and supported him all the way but nothing good has
come our way as a way of appreciating our support.
“The people feel that the President duped them and they think it is time
ready to act,” he said.
Often churches are seen as compliant to the laws and they are usually least
expected to be seen fighting in order to be rewarded.