George Maponga in MASVINGO
War veterans leader Rueben Chikono has been summoned to appear before a Masvingo magistrates’ court after he allegedly incited landless villagers to occupy 10 farms in the Masvingo East prime farming area. Chikono (55), an executive member of the war veterans’ association, is facing charges of incitement after he allegedly encouraged scores of landless villagers to invade the farms between 2011 and present.
The farms were gazetted as State land.

Chikono did not make an initial court appearance to face incitement charges on Wednesday after State counsel Mr Taonga Musina said he needed more time to look for additional documents to be used against him.

The State is alleging that from November 2011 to date, Chikono incited scores of landless villagers, including Tichaona Mawisire, Willy Nigel and Harrison Tapera, to occupy 10 farms.

The farms, according to the State,- are Sundowns, Chevden, Arksden, Menabilly, Doornfontein, Makwari, Kemmington, Vlacksfontein, Nhenga and Salemore farms.
The State is alleging that Chikono, who encouraged the landless villagers to trespass, also sought a peace order at the Ma- svingo Civil Court against the black owners of the farms in question in July 2012.

It is further alleged that the illegal farm occupiers are still on the properties they invaded at the instigation of Chikono.
The State will call acting Masvingo provincial lands officer Mr Fortune Chimbishi to testify as the key witness.

There are over 300 land invaders illegally staying on farms in Ma- svingo East with some of them coming from as far afield as Bikita, Zaka, Chivi and Gutu districts.