Villagers accuse farmer of robbery
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
New farmers and villagers here have expressed concern at what they described
as daylight robbery, by a debt collector working in cahoots with a local
farmer, whose identities have been withheld pending investigations. Angry
villagers told The Zimbabwean that they had been ordered by the debt
collector to pay $886 each as restitution to the local farmer, whose tomato
crop was trampled by stray cattle in 2010.
17.07.1206:54pm
by Staff Reporter
“Five cattle from the accused families strayed into (the local farmer’s)
garden and destroyed part of his 500 plant Rodent tomato crop. 500 plants
produce less than 1,000 kg of the produce valued at no more than $300 then.
‘‘This was due to the poor 2010 tomato market. Normally, 500 plants would
produce tomatoes valued at $700 at most. We were shocked to see the debt
collector descending on the farm last week to instruct owners of the beasts
to pay $886 each, two years after the incident happened,” said a villager.
The farmer demanding restitution started renting the farm in 2010, against
the government land policy which bars resettled plot holders from leasing
out acquired properties. If the debt collector gets his way, the local
farmer would pocket $4,480, leaving the already struggling victims worse
off.
Villagers have called on responsible government offices to intervene.