Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

Commercial Farmers' Union of Zimbabwe

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Fresh farm invasions hit Masvingo

Fresh farm invasions hit Masvingo

http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/

Friday, 16 September 2011 10:23

MASVINGO – A new wave of farm invasions has swept across this province, 
targeting the few remaining white-owned farms.
Most of the targeted white-owned properties are wildlife conservancies in 
the southern parts of the province.
Recently, a small group of soldiers in military fatigue briefly camped at 
Ibeca Farm on the outskirts of the city; the farm is owned by a white farmer 
and hotelier, Peter Goddard.
They allegedly demanded that Goddard vacates the property to pave way for 
army Colonel, Francis Chakauya, who had a confrontation with war veterans 
settled around the property. The former liberation war fighters resisted 
plans by Chakauya to annex the property.
Thousands of apostolic sect members also invaded Chidza Farm, owned by John 
Boland but the invaders were immediately evicted from the property by riot 
police.
The invasions have created fissures in ZANU-PF amid revelations that some 
party heavyweights and war veterans are flatly opposed to the eviction of 
the few remaining white farmers, most of whom have managed to co-exist with 
the newly resettled farmers.
The invasions also come in the wake of increasing concern among resettled 
farmers in over recommendations by the Masvingo provincial leadership to 
garnish part of their land in order to resettle families that would be 
relocated as a result of the construction of Tokwe-Murkosi Dam in southern 
Masvingo.
While Masvingo governor, Titus Maluleke, declined to comment on the reports 
of fresh farm occupations in the province, war veterans leader, Isaiah 
Muzenda, confirmed the development.
He said while land redistribution was a noble programme, it was wrong for 
those with political or even military muscle to elbow others from their 
properties.
Muzenda, whose Masvingo Wildlife conservancy shares a border with Ibeca 
Farm, said it was improper for Colonel Chakauya to occupy the property at 
the expense of other landless civilians that have long waited to be 
resettled.
“Colonel Chakauya wanted to occupy Ibeca Farm on the basis of having been 
misdirected by the Masvingo political leadership because it was agreed years 
back that Goddard should remain on his property owing to his benevolence to 
the local community and also his strong stance against the colonial regime 
that was led by Ian Smith.
“However, what we are saying as war veterans is that if the political 
leadership have decided to remove Goddard, there is nothing wrong because he 
is a white man but Colonel Chakauya cannot occupy the property because under 
those circumstances the property should be occupied by the first black 
person who was given the property before being ordered to make way for 
Goddard,” said Muzenda.
The tough-talking Muzenda also lashed out at lands officers and senior 
government officials in the province who are using their clout to kick out 
some vulnerable black farmers from their land, which they were legally 
occupying.
He said there were some black families that were being driven off their land 
by powerful politicians in Masvingo Wildlife conservancy but vowed that as 
war veterans they were not going to sit and watch such injustices. – Own 
Correspondent

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