CFU Update - 30 April 2000
COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
INFORMATION ROOM
FARM INVASIONS
UPDATE - 30 APRIL 2000
THE STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
This is
a humanitarian program to help C.F.U. members and their families
to be
mentally and physically healthy and productive during a period
of
unprecedented stress.
Modern stress management techniques cannot
remove the source of the
stress, but they are of great assistance in helping
people to cope, and
towards reducing the impact of the Post-Traumatic Stress
Syndrome.
The program is psychological/medical and is
non-political.
Farmers and their family members and workers and CFU
Staff who wish to
attend this Seminar should advise Jan Wentworth on 309800
or
janwe@cfu.co.zw or Nicky Petersen at
the same contact numbers as soon as
possible in order that we can facilitate
the arrangements.
9.00 - 9.10 a.m.
CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
9.10 - 9.30
a.m.
OPENING ADDRESS
Senior C.F.U. Official
9.30 - 10.00 a.m.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STRESS MANAGEMENT -
FROM MODERN INTERNATIONALMEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Psychologist
10.00 - 10.30 a.m.
EXPERIENCE OF FARM INVASIONS - PARTICIPANTS WILLING TO DO SO DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCES. WITH
HELP FROM COUNSELLORS, STRESS MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS ARE
DISCUSSED.
Forum with Counsellors
10.30 -
11.00 a.m.
REFRESHMENTS
11.00 -
11.40 a.m.
HOW TO AVOID/MINIMIZE THE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME
- COMING TO TERMS THIS PROBLEM AND DOING OUR BEST TO MINIMIZE IT
Counsellor
11.40 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
ADAPTIVE
STRATEGIES - PRACTICAL REACTIONS TO FARM INVASIONS
DISCUSSED AND EVALUATED IN A FORUM INCLUDING A PSYCHOLOGIST, LAWYER, AND FARMERS WITH RELEVANT RECENT
EXPERIENCES.
12.30 - 12.45 p.m.
STRESS AND FAMILY
HEALTH - PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL. A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A MEDICAL DOCTOR MAKE
OPENING STATEMENTS WHICH ARE FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION AND ANSWER
SESSION
12.45 - 2.00 p.m.
LUNCH
2.00 - 2.30 p.m.
THE GREATER THE STRESS, THE MORE IMPORTANT THE REMEDY BECOMES
Consultant
2.30
- 3.00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION - FOR SPECIAL ISSUES RAISED EARLIER, AND TO
ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR UNRESOLVED MATTERS.
3.00 - 3.25
p.m.
REFRESHMENTS
3.25 - 4.00
p.m.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - A PANEL OF COUNSELLORS DISCUSS
PROBLEMS RAISED BY PARTICIPANTS IN AN OPEN FORUM
Panel
4.00 p.m.
CLOSING REMARKS
C.F.U.
Official
CASH BAR AND SNACKS
MATABELELAND
Nyamandhlovu - approximately 20 new war veterans
have moved onto Matabeleland concession Block, bringing the total to 100. A
further 20 new war vets have also moved onto an unnamed nearby farm.
Otherwise all quiet.
CENTRAL MASHONALAND
There are two
corrections to yesterday's report. Mvurwi - farm workers assaulted on Donje
and Gobete farms and vehicles commandeered.
Concession - group of 250 war
veterans invaded Portlock Farm which is already state land leased by a senior
DDF official. Invaders intend to allocated the land for residential
expansion of Concession.
Mtepatepa - Workers were assaulted on Chamkuti
and Dundry farms, the support unit intervened during the assault at
Chamkuti. The leader of the war veterans and six other war veterans were
arrested and are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Mvurwi -
labourers were assaulted on Ealing farm and Arowan farm.
Centenary - Vuka
farm experienced an all-night pungwe on the garden. The farmers were not at
home, one cow was slaughtered, two workers assaulted, one a guard whose rifle
was confiscated.
Horseshoe - one new invasion . All other invaded farms
have a presence.
Glendale - one new
invasion.
MIDLANDS
Ongoing threats received in Gweru and Somabula.
A farmer in Shurugwi was told not to return to his farm.
KweKwe - a
good meeting was held on Saturday between CFU (Mr Alrlett-Johnson) and war
veterans. Hunting safaris will be allowed to continue in the
Midlands.
MASVINGO
Mwenezi - Tom Ackerman's truck stopped by war
vets at a road block between Rutenga and Zvishavane, bordering communal area
on Sahuru railway line. War veterans wanted to burn the vehicle. Windows
of vehicle smashed by war vets. Driver carrying farm wages managed
to escape to farm but two other employees from vehicle still
missing.
Police attended scene and War Vet Chairman in the area has been
advised to control his people. One worker has come back, although
severely beaten. The other worker is still missing but may have joined the
war veterans although this is unconfirmed. Riot squad and police
did respond, albeit it slowly.
MASHONALAND WEST
(NORTH)
Chinhoyi
A contingent of plus or minus 15 war vets came to
Hilltop Farm at approximately 1 p.m. and gathered the labor forcing them to
peg the lands. The farmer was ordered not to grow a winter crop this year.
At Kuti Farm the vets forced a work stoppage and threatened the
farmer who has left the homestead.
Lions Den - There has been a
breaking and entering at an unoccupied farmhouse at Slaughter Farm Lions Den
area. Nine or ten war vets occupying house. The incident reported to police
but still awaiting a reaction.
There have been three threats of
extortion made by the vets in the Lions Den area. The vets led by Agrowaite
Ncube have demanded $250000 -$300000 plus cattle and transport from the
farm. The farmers have refused to pay and have reported the matter to the
police and are still awaiting a reaction.
Mhangura - There have
been new invasions at Plateau Farm and Piringani Farm where the war veterans
have effected a work stoppage and have ordered that no wheat should be
planted.
MANICALAND
Having a quiet day.
MASHONALAND
EAST
Messers Watson-Smith and Orphanides report on quite a positive
meeting held on the Virginia area that was attended by Dr
Hunzwi.
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Norton - Quite a lot of activity on
Tilford farm. Zanu PF rally held at Kintyre but this went off
peacefully.
Other areas in Mashonaland West were relatively quiet.