COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
INFORMATION ROOM
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE
- 13 MAY 2000
REGIONAL REPORTS
Mashonaland Central
2
minor assaults have been reported, otherwise most areas
relatively
calm.
Centenary situations has calmed down and a large Zanu PF
rally is
expected to take place Sunday. In Horseshoe, a Farm Pastor on
Mbada
Farm was assaulted yesterday. In Mvurwi a lot of movement has
been
reported of small group being deployed to several farms. The farmers
in
this area have been relatively successful in resisting demands.
In
Glendale a worker was assaulted on Villa Franca Farm, and another
was
abducted temporarily for re-education. In Harare West/Nyabira area a
lot
of pegging activity continues, particularly for residential plots.
One
of the peggers waiting on the side of the road after dark was hit by
a
passing motorist, full details unknown as yet.
Mashonaland
East
Farmers in Marondera are meeting today to put together available land
to
offer to Government. War Veterans moved onto Rotsvlei Farm,
Marondera,
to talk to the owner, who was not on the farm at the time, the
farmers
wife and children have left the farm. A group of Youths moved
onto
Lamba Farm, Wedza and beat up 15 labourers, and then moved onto
next
door farm Idube where there have been work stoppages all week, and
have
demanded that the Farm Foreman of 8 years be dismissed. The reasons
for
this demand are unknown as yet. The local Task Team will be called
out
to negotiate this demand. Other areas in the region are
quiet.
Mashonaland West South
A group of 150 War Veterans have moved
onto Wicklow Farm, Selous. The
farm owner was abducted temporarily, the
situation has been defused
after the support unit went in, the response from
the police is reported
to have been excellent. War Veterans on Wicklow Farm
who were beaten up
by Zanu PF supporters have accused these Zanu PF supporters
of having
been paid off.
Midlands
Several farmers in the Gweru
area are laying low at present. The owner
of Highlands Farm has received
threats and has vacated. No major
problems are reported from Kwekwe or
Mberengwa districts.
Masvingo
All areas reported to be quiet, except
for Mwenezi where Re - education
has spread to the schools in Mwenezi. Within
the school the children are
even assaulting one another. There is talk of the
ZANU PF youths moving
in to address Headmasters and Teachers. We expect a few
incidents to
occur over the weekend. In the Save Conservancy, Sango Ranch
reports
that the War vets have moved out of his safari camp. They have
now
threatened to check on MDC cards in the main complex where about
40
staff members are being housed. Vice President Msika has been
briefed
on the situation and on the events that have occurred in the area
over
the last few weeks. He has stated that he understands and requested
that
an amicable solution be found.
ZRP Police Bikita have been requested
to dispatch details to stay on the
property for fear of violence and
intimidation. On the eastern boundary
poaching is ongoing, there is
resistance and intimidation taking place.
A spokesperson reports no change
to his situation as reported yesterday.
They demand to see their leadership.
Poaching, intimidation and
interference with work at his Safari Camp is
ongoing.
Mashonaland West North
Maizma Farm, Lions Den, reports one
beast slaughtered and a second is
missing. 2 ex-labourers have joined the
War veterans on this farm, and
the leader of this group is selling plots to
invaders for $500 per
plot. The leader has a criminal record for selling
plots on this farm
and threatening to squat for the past 10 years and so is
known to the
farmer. Generally, in the region, there are ongoing demands for
food
and shelter, some demands for transport. Otherwise reasonably quiet.
Matabeleland
A ZANU PF rally is being held in Nyamandhlovu today,
and another in the
Greystones area near Shabani. Some families in the Marula
area have
recieved threats, and have evacuated their farms.
Manicaland
All is quiet, except that there are threats of War Veterans moving
into
Burma Valley tommorrow (Sunday). There is a situation in Headlands
of
increasing intimidation and demands being placed on a
farmer.
..........................
COMMERCIAL FARMERS
UNION
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE
14 MAY 2000
Masvingo
All quiet -
monitoring the Save Conservancy.
Mashonaland Central
Bindura -
attention has been focused on several large rallies, so there
have been more
demands for food and transport.
Centenary - quiet. A rally was held on
Ashford Farm. Most farmers and
labourers to attend.
Mvurwi - a large
group on Vigela Farm.
Tsatsi - Large rally at Chaddesly Farm. The
local MP requested a
meeting with all farmers after the meeting. Otherwise,
area quiet.
Mazowe/Concession - active yesterday with new invasions on
Marodzi River
Farm and Musasa Farm.
Glendale - Bemersyde Farm
workers suffered intimidation and assaults.
No serious
injuries.
Mutepatepa - drunken invaders assaulted workers on Retreat.
ZRP called
in.
Shamva - New invasion on Beacon Hill Farm. Not
hostile.
Mashonaland East
Macheke/Virginia - on Durlstone, about 100
invaders arrived, made a
noise, then left. Area
quiet.
Enterprise/Ruwa - Enterprise Club grounds invaded this morning.
Apart
from a lot of movement farm to farm the situation is reasonably
calm.
Marondera (South) - Chipesa Farm homestead has been emptied of
contents,
which have been removed for safekeeping. Yesterday, there were
large
numbers on Rotsvlei. On police matters, Chief Superintendent Mateko
has
been replaced by Chief Superintendent Mutaurwa as Dispol
Marondera.
Marondera (North) - quiet.
Featherstone - no
report.
Wedza - on Iamba, the youth beat up 15 workers. On Idube there
was a
one hour work stoppage yesterday. About 130 invaders pegged
Dudley
yesterday.
Harare South/Beatrice - on Portugal and Zanka
Farms, the owners have
evacuated under threat. Nyambiri and Swallowfield
Farms to be visited
by invaders checking party cards. Police
presence.
A very moving funeral service was held yesterday at
Presbyterian Church,
Highlands, for the late Alan Dunn. About 600 were
present inside the
church, with a similar number outside.
With regret,
John Weekes passed away on Saturday evening.
Mashonaland West
(North)
Chinhoyi - a Zanu (PF) rally was held on a farm north of Chinhoyi.
Farmers told to go with labour, where a roll call was to be
taken.
Karoi - as at Sunday afternoon, there is a large gathering on
the
Buffalo Downs Road and Karoi Road. It is recommended to use
the
Kingsview Road and come out on the Chanetsa Road.
Mashonaland West
(South)
Group of approximately 150 invaders commandeered two tractors
from
Parklands Farm. They went to plough on Kintyre and then proceeded
to
Aberdeen. The group then requisitioned diesel from Winson Farm and
went
on to Garvillin.
Norton - quiet
Chakari - there was
building of huts on Rondor Farm, pegging on New
Begin and all workers on
Blackmorevale Farm were told to get ZANU (PF))
cards if they wanted
land.
Selous - Wicklow had an invasion of 150 people. Six invaders left
on
farm.
Matabeleland
Quiet.
Midlands
Shurugwi -
invaders restless. Some farms vacated. On Gwenara Farm
there was a new
invasion as of yesterday. Peaceful.
Somabula - some farms visited and
move-ons envisaged.
Manicaland
Mid-Save - threats have been carried
out. Pegging by 200 invaders.
Planting of this year's wheat crop is being
stopped until a meeting is
set up with a war vet leader for tomorrow.
Headlands - Zanu (PF) rally held today.