This factual account has been recorded by Topper Whitehead and is dedicated to
Roy Bennett for his stand against evil in the face of tremendous odds
The Police in Manicaland, Chipinge and Chimanimani, for their dedication to duty
and justice, patriotism, professionalism and the upholding of law and order and the
constitution of Zimbabwe for all citizens in the face of tremendous pressure from
Politicians and the Presidents Office.
The people of Chimanimani for their courage in the face of adversity.
The farm labour on Charleswood farm for their courage and resilience.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country.”
John F Kennedy
Without exception the “peaceful invasions” of farms by so called War Veterans
have been coupled with violence and the prerequisite that the farmers and their
labour renounce MDC and support ZANU. This has been condoned by President
Mugabe and allowed to develop by the Commercial Farmers Union. The Police
have been instructed not to interfere and a state of near anarchy has developed
with an almost complete breakdown of law and order as a result. In addition
president Mugabe has publicly threatened violence on any who dare to oppose him
and the rest of ZANU have taken his lead and embarked on a violent wave of
intimidation under the guise of - land.
Amongst all this there is one person who has stood up and fought for justice, has put truth
and the law ahead of material goods and has considered the country and the 13 million
people and has been prepared to sacrifice all rather than be intimidated and give up.
The Roy Bennett saga from start :-
Roy Bennett (43) married with two children, is a Zimbabwean citizen who owns and runs
a coffee farm in the Haroni Valley at the foot of the Chimanimani Mountains.
The farm - Charleswood - was purchased under Zimbabwean Law with a Government
certificate of NO INTEREST in 1993.
Having proved himself as a community active person the people asked Roy Bennett to be
their candidate for the constituency as they were disappointed in the performance of the
ZANU PF candidate. He agreed in early 1999 and actively campaigned under ZANU -
there was no other viable political party in ZIMBABWE - the objective being to get a
community candidate into parliament to speak for the community against the
mis-management of the government.
When the MDC was formed there was - for the first time in 20 years - a valid alternative
to get a voice in parliament - Roy Bennett - popularly known as Pachedu - consulted with
the community who unanimously agreed to him crossing the floor to MDC.
Roy Bennett - is the MDC Candidate for Chimanimani
On 10th May 2000 Roy's farm was violently invaded by "War Vets" - he received
messages that the invasion was NOT land but political and that he should renounce MDC
or he and his family would be killed - on renunciation of MDC his farm would be returned
to him as it was not suitable for resettlement.
On 11th May Roy Bennett had a meeting in the Chimanimani Club with representatives of
the War Vets and ZANU PF leadership, which was chaired by the Police. ZANU PF
Chairwoman also included
ZANU PF’s Mrs Knight on her way to a meeting concerning land between war Vets and the farm
owner
At the meeting he was told -
That his involvement with MDC was wrong
He was to renounce MDC and make arrangements for peaceful co-existence with
the invaders
Police could NOT guarantee his safety without the renunciation of MDC.
Roy Bennett said
He would not renounce MDC, he is an elected representative among his
constituents and it is the people who should ask him to take such a step - NOT the
invaders.
As the invasion was obviously politically motivated and the police could not
guarantee the safety of his family nor workers he had no option but to give the
farm to the invaders who would then be responsible for the crop to be harvested,
the payment of the workers - ( 170 permanent and up to 400 casual workers from
the communal lands ) and for the bank overdraft secured on the farm and crop
collateral.
He asked that he be allowed to remove all his personal property. This was agreed
and assurances were given that his property would not be damaged and he could
start removing it immediately.
The police later advised that as the situation was potentially volatile he should wait a few
days before starting to remove property
Video tapes have been made of all that was possible including the statements made by the
War Vets after the meeting.
On the night of the 11th messages were again received indicating that the issue was not
land but the fact that Roy Bennett had crossed the floor and if he did not return to ZANU
with all his followers he and his family would be eliminated.
In the interests of national peace Roy Bennett sent a video tap ed message to the War Vets
and his workers to be delivered in Chimanimani on Tuesday 16th by Topper Whitehead
(MDC supporter and mediator).
The video taped messages noted:-
To the farm invaders.
1. “If the invasion is about land, and as the farm is fully utilised, there
is no room for subdivision. The invaders must be responsible for
the continued farm operation including the payment of wages, and
bank overdraft etc. Topper was to make an assessment of the
logistics of removing personal property from the farm.”
2. “If the invasion was about politics, Roy Bennett would NOT
renounce MDC as it was the peoples prerogative to do so and they
should then vacate the farm and allow normal farming operations to
continue.”
To the farm workers and community:-
Roy would not renounce MDC “unless they wanted him to do so. They
should be strong under the difficult circumstances and not to succumb to
intimidation.”
Because of the political sensitivity of the situation Topper first went to Mutare where at
08hrs00 he met with the ProPol Chief - Senior Assistant Commissioner RUDO
MUCHEMENYI - to inform her of the mission and to ask for a Police escort. She
advised that the mission was in order and that Topper should go to Chipinge to see the
officer in charge Chief Superintendent GATSI who would arrange for a police escort via
the Chimanimani police headed by Police Inspector MASHAYAMOMBE.
At 08hrs20 Topper was intercepted on his way to Chipinge and was asked to meet with
CIO member, Claxton MAVERA, on the second floor of the CIO office block
There was one other person present initially and later joined by another.
The CIO made photostats of Topers identity disc and he was frisked to ensure no
recording devices were attached and then asked where Roy Bennett could be found.
Topper told the CIO that Roy was not hiding but had moved out of Chimanimani because
the threats he had received and the fact that the War Vets were killing his cattle, stealing
his chickens and diesel, using his vehicles and beating his workers - all contrary to the
assurances given on Thursday 11th .
The CIO confirmed that 2 head of cattle and all the chickens had been killed and eaten and
that the WAR VETS were using his vehicles and fuel, were abusing the labour, while
drinking his liquor and using his house.
The video taped messages to the War Vets was shown to the CIO who then summoned
the Chairman of the War Vets Association - Mr Tsoririyo - to the office to view the tape
which was done in the office of the chief CIO officer Mr HODZI who was also shown the
message from Roy Bennett
The message from the chief CIO officer to be given to Roy Bennett was -
CIO can guarantee peaceful co-existence as a commercial farmer but not as a MDC
candidate. But there was a solution to the invasion and that was for Roy Bennett to
renounce MDC and the invaders would then leave and the farm return to normal.
Topper was instructed to advise Roy Bennett too that should he speak to the press, the
CIO could not guarantee the safety of him or his family, and Topper was also told that
should he speak to the press or any other person the CIO could not guarantee his safety
either.
Topper was also told that because there were some "unruly elements" amongst the
occupiers of Roy Bennett’s farm he was NOT allowed to proceed to the farm to show the
war vets the message or to make arrangements for the removal of Roy Bennett’s property.
The CIO said that the Chairman of the War Vets ( Mr Tsoririyo ) would visit the area to set
the scene for him and Topper to visit the farm on Friday 19th.
It was suggested that the slaughtered cattle, booze etc that had been consumed by the War
Vets should be donated by Roy Bennett to the cause of ZANU PF. ( sick joke )
On Wednesday 17th, unconfirmed reports was received that 5 people had been killed on
the farm. Topper accompanied a press contingent to Chimanimani where it was again
stated that it was not possible to visit the farm as "some horrible things are happening
there". Five murders had not happened although 5 people were tied up and while being
beaten were told that should they not denounce MDC they would be killed.
The video taped messages from Roy Bennett were shown to the Officer in charge of the
district - Chief Superintendent GATSI and the Officer in Charge Chimanimani - Inspector
MASHAYAMOMBE.
It was confirmed that a visit to the farm with a Police escort on Friday 19th would be
possible.
On Thursday 18th a meeting in MUTARE convened by the Officer Commanding the
Manicaland Province Senior - Assistant Commissioner MUCHEMENYI was called for
prospective political candidates where she told all present -
"That in the run up to elections the Police would NOT condone any criminal acts and that
Law and Order and the Constitution would be maintained. Political parties were to ensure
that their members conformed with the rule of law and that violence makers could expect
police intervention".
During question time a MDC member told of violence where no police action was taken
and stealing was allowed. The police appeared to have no power over the War Vets as
the President had instructed otherwise.
The police acknowledged the instances, while reiterating that ALL crimes should be
REPORTED and if no action was taken at station level the report should filter up to the
Provincial Police with details of the inaction.
It was suggested by a MDC candidate that to avoid violence there was only one option
and that was for the police to enforce the law and for all people to abide by the
constitution and law and order.
The Chair of the War Vets - Mr Tsoriyo - stood up and became very political citing 20
year old injustice on land and white on black, the majority of the MDC members walked
out of the briefing as the idea was to eliminate violence not to use the gathering as a
historical political platform.
Mr Tsoriyo later said he would not accompany Topper to Roy Bennett’s farm the
following day.
On Friday 19th Topper arrived at Chimanimani Police Station at 09hrs00 and was advised
that it would NOT be possible to go to the farms as it was not safe to do so even with a
police escort, but a meeting with the War Vets would be possible after a meeting called by
the District Police Command to brief the area political parties of the way forward to
elections.
Topper met with 12 War Vet representatives at 12hrs07 where they refused to view the
video taped messages sent by Roy Bennett and Topper had to deliver the message
verbally.
After protracted arguments where the War Vets refused to acknowledge that they were
killing his cattle, carrying out beatings, using his transport and fuel etc they said Topper
would be refused access to the farm and a message was to be taken back to Roy Bennett
as follows :-
1. If Roy Bennett wants to share the land HE is to come to the farm ASAP where full
police protection will be allowed and he is to explain why he changed from ZANU
PF to MDC
2. If he does NOT want to share the land they will TAKE the land and he will only be
allowed to remove his property AFTER the elections. - It was asked why a land
issue was connected to ZANU PF and the elections to which it was stated that that
is what ZANU PF wanted.
3. Roy Bennett was to "Stop this lost Hoax Cause”, according to a war veteran who
referred to himself as Lord War Vet Mutasa, or he will be arrested.
It was assured that everything on the farm was safe.
Evidence of beating - Photograph taken 10 minutes after the war vets had denied any violence.
An eye witness confirms that on Thursday night a further 5 people were abducted from
Chimanimani main village at gun point - taken to Roy Bennett’s farm in his truck - beaten
because they were MDC supporters and then given a ZANU programme to follow under
threat of their lives if they did not - the beating being a warning
A rally was held in Chimanimani on Saturday 20th where the ZANU Candidate Mr
Munacho Mutezo who is also the Chairman of the TIME BANK in Harare - and who
personally arranged and watched the public beating of MAXWELL MARAIRE a MDC
supporter - held a rally, attended by approximately 1500 people, most of whom were
forced to attend.
On Monday 22nd Roy Bennett and Topper went to Mutare accompanied by Reuters. At
08hrs15 they met with the Provincial Commanding Officer, Senior Assistant Chief
Commissioner MUCHEMENYI and District Chief Inspector TAKAWIRA where Roy
Bennett reported the lack of Police action to reported thefts and property damage done by
the War Vets on his farm in Chimanimani following the invasion on 10th May.
The commissioner arranged for statements to be taken from eyewitnesses who had
escaped the farm and also for a Support Unit escort to accompany them from
Chimanimani to the farm.
At Chimanimani access to the farm was again refused the reason given was that the War
Vets (criminals) had broken into the gun cabinet on the farm and were in possession of
high-powered hunting rifles and had threatened to shoot any persons trying to visit the
farm.
Returning to Harare it was noted that Bennett had not been able to carry out farming
activities for two weeks.
On Friday 26th Roy Bennett received a telephone call from DisPol - Chief Superintendent
GATSI requesting that the farm managers return to the farm to re-commence “normal
farming operations”.
Wally Johnson had previously observed the leader of the War Vets - (Gift Chikanda) in
Chimanimani with Roy Bennett’s tractor and trailer and in possession of a 100 year old
ceremonial sword stolen from the farm. He threatened to “kill Roy Bennett the white pig”
On Saturday 27th at 10hrs00 Topper phoned Senior Assistant Police Commissioner
MUCHEMENYI to enquire as to her contact fax number because we wished to send a fax
stating our dissatisfaction on not being allowed on the farm to carry out normal farming
activities in line with the directive from President Mugabe. She said :-
There were no war vets in Chimanimani and that the information gained from
Wally Johnson was incorrect.
All the war vets are off the farm.
We should communicate with the OC Police Chimanimani for a Police escort.
The police had requested farm managers to return to work.
Topper said that the managers would be returned to work only when it was safe to do so
and after a full inventory of damage and stolen property was done for criminal reports and
insurance purposes.
A fax was sent to Chimanimani Police, DisPol and ProPol stating the dissatisfaction as to
the apparent break down of law and order in the district.
On Sunday 28th a phone call from Supt GATSI was received stating arrests have been
made, property recovered and that it is safe to venture back onto the farm and
re-commence “normal farming operations”
Monday 29th May 2000 Roy Bennett and Topper went first to Chipinge Police and had a
brief discussion with Chief Superintendent GATSI about returning to the farm to evaluate
the damage and make plans to re-commence normal farming operation. The two then
proceeded to Chimanimani police.
Above is some of the stolen property recovered by the police and evidence of slaughtering of cattle was
viewed at the police station.
IMAGE9
Roy Bennett and Topper went onto the farm with an armed Police Support Unit escort
and were met by a rowdy bunch of stick wielding War Vets and women reported to be
prostitutes.
The stick waving reception
The interior of the farm house used by ZANU PF for beating and indoctrination was
viewed and the general mess of the house interior noted. It was not possible to gain
access to the bedroom wing as the door had been repaired and the keys not available.
A tour of the farm revealed that the general work necessary on the farm had been severely
neglected and the coffee needed urgent watering, the house belonging to the farm foreman
had been broken into and the tyres of his car slashed.
The Coffee requiring water Tyres slashed
On the journey back to Harare, Roy called in at CHIRAMBA ( about 10km off the main road
and about 60km from Chimanimani ) where he had started a community project by loaning the
primary school a JCB 3CX and a tractor and trailer with operators to assist in the repair of
the road. Roy Bennett arranged this before his farm was invaded and because the road
was so bad that when an elderly person became critically ill no vehicles could access the
area and the ill person had to be taken to the clinic in a wheelbarrow.
On arrival at the school Roy Bennett was advised by the Headmaster that the ZANU PF
candidate Munacho Mutezo and War Vets had commandeered the machinery and were
using it further down the road to do a job so that when he visited the area for a rally he
would be able to drive in.
With the headmaster we drove to the site to find the machinery and the operators
employed by Roy Bennett waiting for the War Vets who had gone in search of a gravel
pit.
Roy Bennett with the headmaster and the JCB waiting for the War Vets
When the WarVets arrived they categorically said that Munacho Mutezo had taken the
plant as it was his right as the new owner of Charleswood farm.
The War Vets stated that they were employed by Munacho Mutezo to do a job and to
control the plant operators.
Roy Bennett talking with the war Vets
When it was explained that the plant was owned by Roy Bennett they became abusive and
said “we are doing this for the party and work for Munacho Mutezo”. Roy Bennett with
the JCB ahead, and the War Vets in pursuit shouting abuse drove off with the tractor and
trailer.
War Vet shouting threats and being abusive
The plant was driven to Cashell Police Station and charges of theft were laid by Roy
Bennett.
On Thursday 1st June all the farm managers assembled at the Chimanimani Police station
and were escorted to Charleswood farm.
Roy Bennett talking with the 2 War Vet representatives who were shocked as to the vandalism
A meeting was held with two of the War Vets who represented the squatters where Roy
Bennett stated that as it had been proved categorically that the invasion was politically
motivated and that transport would be provided should they wish to abandon the lost
cause now that the criminals were being apprehended. The two representatives stated that
they would have to consult with their leader from Chimanimani and the rest of the group.
They were invited to witness the damage and vandalism that had occurred which they did.
Roy Bennets bedroom as found after the War Vets and The Gun Cabinet broken intoto steal Hunting
rifles and money
It is incomprehensible that the so called “peaceful invasions of farms” can result in so
much wanton hooliganism and still be condoned by President Mugabe.
The war veterans who witnessed the vandalism were truly shocked that such acts could be
carried out and were pleased that the culprits were being apprehended and charged as it
gave the War Vets and their cause a bad name.
In his office Roy speaks of the national situation. He says that by playing along, the
Commercial Farmers Union - CFU - made it look like a land issue when there is not really
one.
All the farmers have ever done in the country is to build and contribute and when the CFU
allowed politics to become involved and advised farmers not to be confrontational as they
were encouraging lawlessness.
Roy Bennett in his Workshop office - 1st June 2000
Roy notes: “you don’t have to be confrontational to be right - it is not a political stand
point it is a stand between what is right and wrong.”
Roy is adamant that the CFU’s stand is completely wrong and an injustice to the land that
has given them birth.
On Friday morning 2nd June the farm workers gathered and were addressed by Roy
Bennett who stressed that no violence or recriminations would be tolerated; that the farm
would be brought back to normal as soon as possible and that their wages due on the 4th
would be calculated immediately the office had been fingerprinted by the police.
A happy worker now that Pachedu is back
Meeting of workers 2nd June 2000
There was joy and cheering and everyone was truly happy for Pachedu to be back.
The view of the mountains from the homestead- guarded by Police
It is a sad day in Zimbabwe when the 20 year old land issue is coupled with right and
wrong and that those farmers and other businesses that are prepared to sacrifice truth and
justice for personal gain and abandon principals of justice to secure their worldly wealth
are prostituting themselves and betraying the country and 13 million people that has given
them the wealth in the first instance are too scared to stand up and be counted - there is
more to patriotism than casting a secret vote.
Justice for all in Zimbabwe
R W { Topper } Whitehead - June 2000
On 11th May Roy Bennett had a meeting in the Chimanimani Club with representatives of
the War Vets and ZANU PF leadership, which was chaired by the Police. ZANU PF
Chairwoman also included
ZANU PF’s Mrs Knight on her way to a meeting concerning land between war Vets and the farm
owner
As the invasion was obviously politically motivated and the police could not
guarantee the safety of his family nor workers he had no option but to give the
farm to the invaders who would then be responsible for the crop to be harvested,
the payment of the workers - ( 170 permanent and up to 400 casual workers from
the communal lands ) and for the bank overdraft secured on the farm and crop
collateral. 
It was assured that everything on the farm was safe.
Above is some of the stolen property recovered by the police and evidence of slaughtering of cattle was
viewed at the police station.
IMAGE9
Roy Bennett and Topper went onto the farm with an armed Police Support Unit escort
and were met by a rowdy bunch of stick wielding War Vets and women reported to be
prostitutes.
A tour of the farm revealed that the general work necessary on the farm had been severely
neglected and the coffee needed urgent watering, the house belonging to the farm foreman
had been broken into and the tyres of his car slashed.
With the headmaster we drove to the site to find the machinery and the operators
employed by Roy Bennett waiting for the War Vets who had gone in search of a gravel
pit. 
The War Vets stated that they were employed by Munacho Mutezo to do a job and to
control the plant operators. 
War Vet shouting threats and being abusive
On Thursday 1st June all the farm managers assembled at the Chimanimani Police station
and were escorted to Charleswood farm.
They were invited to witness the damage and vandalism that had occurred which they did.
In his office Roy speaks of the national situation. He says that by playing along, the
Commercial Farmers Union - CFU - made it look like a land issue when there is not really
one. 
A happy worker now that Pachedu is back