Zanu PF Land wars intensify in Masvingo
By Godfrey Mtimba
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 15:05
MASVINGO – Land wars between Zanu PF officials have turned nasty in Masvingo province, where an influential member Ardmore Hwarare claims to have received death threats from fellow senior members.
Hwarare, a former Zanu PF Masvingo provincial political commissar who still works closely with the party’s top hierarchy in his role as the president of the Zimbabwe Sugar Cane Farmers Association, told the Daily News yesterday that so serious were the threats over farms that he had been forced into hiding.
The situation in Masvingo provides an insight into how ownership of farms grabbed from evicted white farmers is now tearing Zanu PF apart as senior officials seek control of lucrative farms.
The Chiredzi-based politician named a senior official whom he said had used his influence to loot farms for his family members as being behind the death threats. The Daily News cannot name the senior official for legal reasons.
Hwarare said he had since fled his farm homestead in Chiredzi after aides of the official came to him and threatened to kill him for exposing the looting.
“I received threats from an aide (name supplied) who came to me recently and told me that he had been instructed to kill me. He said it was because of the land issue,” said Hwarare.
According to Hwarare, the top official was furious after he was summoned by vice president Joice Mujuru in late December to a meeting over allegations of fresh land grabs. The meeting was also attended by local chiefs, Hwarare claimed.
“He is accusing me of influencing chiefs to report him to the vice president. Local traditional leaders told the vice president that they were not beneficiaries of the land reform because he was shunning them,” said Hwarare.
The senior party official is accused of grabbing a sugar cane farm last month before looting another 1 300 hectares for his son at the Hippo Valley Estates, a move that angered other farmers and local traditional leaders.
Hwarare said he was afraid of getting to Chiredzi or be seen anyway in Masvingo because of the threats.
“I am living in fear and right now even my wife knows that I can die anytime. This guy is seriously after my life because of the sugar cane farms and other political issues. I have since informed senior party leaders and relevant authorities, like the police,” he said.
Governor Titus Maluleke, who is in charge of land issues in the province, refused to comment on the alleged clashes.
“I am on leave. I won’t comment on any issue, right now. I know nothing as I am not in office. I will only respond to the press when my leave is over,” said Maluleke before terminating the call.
But Hwarare said the threats were genuine, forcing him to stop appearing in public places.
“This guy also accuses me of eyeing his seat and has found an excuse to eliminate me. So these days I am not appearing in public because I do not know where my life is going to be cut short,” he said.