Mugabe’s nephew held hostage by farm workers
By Alex Bell
07 May 2012
Workers at a Norton tobacco farm now run by Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick
Zhuwao last week held him hostage, over his failure to pay his staff for
three months.
Zhuwao was reportedly held hostage hours by 115 workers at his Gwebi
Junction Estate near Norton, who staged a sit in on the property. The group
sang revolutionary songs and beat drums before sealing off the farmhouse
exit, and demanding their money.
Zhuwao, who is the ZANU PF MP for Zvimba East constituency, reportedly
climbed a fence and eventually escaped using a back exit.
According to the Standard newspaper, a worker at the farm said they only
became confrontational after failing to engage Zhuwao through peaceful
means.
“Zhuwao has not paid us for three months but what has really angered us is
that he is being elusive,” the worker was quoted as saying.
The workers said they were also infuriated by the fact that whenever they
raised the issue of payment, Zhuwao would accuse them of being influenced by
a CIO operative said to be competing with him for the Zvimba East seat.
Zhuwao confirmed to the Standard on Saturday that he was held hostage and
that the workers had since sealed him off the farm until he brings their
wages.
“I can confirm that I have not paid my workers for the last three months due
to some financial constraints,” said Zhuwao.
“Remember, I am a tobacco farmer and I can only pay them after selling my
tobacco, which can be anytime soon. But the unfortunate part is that they
have sealed me off the farm,” he is quoted as saying.
The workers have remained camped at the farm house, vowing to stay put until
Zhuwao pays them. By the end of Monday it was unclear yet if any agreement
had been reached.