COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
FARM INVASIONS AND SECURITY UPDATE
Wednesday 13th December 2000
We apologise to recipients that the distribution of this report is a day late. Events surrounding the politically motivated murder of Henry Elsworth took precedence.
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF:
No regional reports were received from Manicaland and Matabeleland.
REGIONAL REPORTS:
Mashonaland Central
Glendale - Von Abo was fast tracked by invaders on Saturday but the crowd dispersed when the farm owner was found to be unavailable. War vets/invaders attacked the farm village at Chirobi on Monday night, assaulted the labourers and trashed their houses. When they eventually responded, police made no attempt to take statements from labourers and made no arrests. They did, however, detain the farm clerk for questioning upon receiving a fabricated tip off from war vets. 15 ha of soyabeans have been destroyed by invaders at Thrums and they are now attempting to over plant with maize.
Mutepatepa - The owner of Bourtonvale reports that a Mrs. Katsande, who is a Sister at the clinic on the neighbouring farm Gatumba, has employed children from Gatumba village to plant for her on Bourtonvale.
Mashonaland East
Beatrice - Section 8 Orders have been delivered for Plumstead Estate, Lot of Plumstead, Gowerlands B & C, Silver Oak, Victory, Elim, Karreboom, Central. Occupants in a government vehicle (white sedan) were seen on Eden Farm looking for the owner and his foreman. Four individuals from Tsunga Resettlement threatened the owner of Portugal farm. Five settlers from Ringa Resettlement threatened the owner of Voerspoed farm with a knife, but left after the situation was defused. Invaders on Goldilands are top-dressing their maize with AN.
Enterprise - Timber cabins are being erected on Masuri farm with asbestos roofing.
Harare South - Section 8 Orders have been delivered for Doune and Kildonan, Garth, Kinfauns, Chesham and Nyarakuru.
Marondera - Problems on Mari farm continue as the police insist that the farmer was the one who burnt down the invaders hut and they want to arrest him for arson.
Macheke / Virginia - Invaders on Dry Law Hill have built an enclosure for their 21 cattle which were moved onto the farm with a suspicious cattle movement permit. On the same farm, 10 ha of Katambora grass seed has been ploughed in already. The squatters on Welcome Home have stated that the police would have to kill them to move them off the farm. Seventy hectares of maize has been established on Welcome Home farm with the assistance of neighbouring farmers.
Wedza - Three poachers were arrested on Chard farm. The tractor on Lifton continues to plough illegally and some illegal planting has taken place. The owner of Chakadenga received a letter of complaint from the base commander alleging that the farmer and foreman had broken a “deal”, but no deal had been made. Section 7 Orders (notification of intention to confirm the acquisition in court) have been received for Chirume, Budleigh and Collace. However the Section 8 Orders have already expired for these farms, thus invalidating the court applications. There was poaching on Welton farm where two warthogs were killed. In the reaction - two were arrested and another two, whose identities are known, escaped.
Mashonaland West (North)
Chinhoyi - Four individuals were arrested after police responded to a work stoppage on Ormiston Farm. Invaders are planting in prepared lands on Long Valley Farm and have threatened to burn equipment. The DA has stated that the Law is not relevant as the President and war vets can do what they like. ZRP reacted but the matter is not resolved. Two resident invaders informed the owner of Cotswold that he was not allowed to plant his seed maize in the adjacent land. Ploughing and illegal cattle movement continues on Magondi Farm, Magog, Listonshields, Baramanya and Gorodema. Mutala Farm and Zintafuli. The invaders on Zintafuli are five families from Gokwe District who resettled by government on Kanyaga Estate two years ago. “Weekend” invaders from Harare continue to plant cotton on Omagora. The DA has given full permission to settle 48 families on Zintafuli and Omagora and says that the farmers no longer the own the farms.
Karoi - Illegal ploughing is taking place on a number of properties. In many cases, illegal occupiers are living in the tobacco barns, which will shortly be needed for curing tobacco. The owner of Wingate Farm who was alleged to have dismantled war vet structures was charged with malicious injury to property. The Assistant DA (Chiweshe) informed the owner of Glen Ellen Farm that he must make land available to the invaders or he would suffer the same fate as the Shamva farmers.
Mashonaland West (South)
Norton - There was a new invasion of approximately 20 people on Wilbered Farm. An aggressive crowd arrived on Serui Source to warn the owner that a DDF tractor would be coming the next day to disc in all the maize that the owner has planted.
Selous - There was a prize bull slaughtered on Arbor Farm close to the war vet encampment.
Chegutu - There continues to be reluctance from police to remove cattle that have come in from the anthrax area in Mhondoro. Meanwhile none of these cattle have been dipped and present other animal health risks as a result. On Ijapo there has been approximately 10 hectares of rhodes grass destroyed and despite three reports to police with RRB numbers destruction of this crop continues.
Kadoma / Battlefields – Invaders on Collingdale have attempted to prevent planting and have demanded co-existence. The Assistant DA for Kadoma, with several others demanded co-existence from the owner of Railway Farm 4, threatening war and "bad things" should the owner and his wife refuse. One war veteran was trampled and badly bruised by a buffalo. When the farmer returned to the camp after taking the injured person for first aid, the other war vets attacked his vehicle.
Masvingo
Masvingo East and Central - Plot allocation has degenerated to a free-for-all after the DA of Masvingo informed illegal occupiers that government has not got the resources to “officially” (but illegally) resettle the farms. An official from the Ministry of Land and Agriculture (Mrs. Chanatsu) has advised illegal occupiers to cut branches to protect “their” fields from cattle damage. Propol has formed a high level committee to deal with work stoppages. Work stoppages continue on Lothian Farm despite the taskforce. The owner of Yetton and Marah Ranch had to make a hasty retreat after war veterans alleged that the security guards on the farm were trained militia.
Chiredzi – After a dispute on BJB Ranch about the watering of invaders’ cattle, invaders have threatened to hamstring or kill the owner’s cattle if they wander onto “their” lands. In a meeting with the farm manager, they warned that it might be time for them to become more aggressive and violent, like their comrades in the highveld where commercial farmers have “learned their lesson”. All illegal occupiers have moved off Oscro Farm, onto Wasara. “Black Jesus” who carried a pistol, led the invasion. Ranching Enterprise has been devastated through haphazard land clearance. Cattle on Buffalo Range are being deliberately driven onto the main roads.
Mwenezi - Ploughing, planting, tree chopping, deliberate fires and illegal cattle movement continues.
Save Conservancy - Poaching still continues within the conservancy.
Gutu / Chatsworth – A group of war veterans, who said that they were armed, surrounded the homestead at Eastdale Ranch at a time when the farmer’s wife was alone in the house. Police reaction was slow.
Midlands
Kwekwe – The politically motivated murder of Henry Elsworth and the serious injuries sustained by his son, Ian, have been reported through an urgent sitrep and a statement issued by CFU President, Tim Henwood.
Gweru East / Lalapanzi – War vet “Honest Chigwederi” has given veiled threats to the owner of Gando Farm that he will turn the cattle off the farm on to the main road as they are a threat to their planting on that farm. Negotiations for part of the farm to remain available for cattle are ongoing and Chigwederi has been told that he would be held responsible for any accidents that may occur should the cattle be driven onto the road.
Shurugwi - Occupiers are planting maize on fields on Edwards Farm in which summer field flowers have been and are being planted. The fields have been treated with herbicide for grass, which will prevent maize from growing, but the occupiers appear not to believe this. Cutting of fences, opening of gates causing cattle management problems are ongoing and on Outward Bound Farm. Calves have been disappearing and one was found but was put down due to spear injuries.
Malcolm Vowles, Deputy Director (Admin & Projects). Harare 309800-18. ddap@cfu.co.zw
COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION
FARM INVASIONS AND SECURITY UPDATE
Friday 15th December 2000
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF:
Regional reports were not received from Midlands and Matabeleland.
REGIONAL REPORTS:
Mashonaland Central
General – Throughout the province, there are widespread work stoppages, illegal movement of cattle and other livestock onto properties, haphazard attempts at ploughing and planting and construction of shelters.
Victory Block – Invaders at Msitwe River Ranch continue to make claims that the owner’s cattle are eating “their” crops.
Mazowe/Concession – Yesterday, invaders at Danbury Park demanded that the farm workers move out of their houses and proceeded to remove their possessions from the houses. They moved up to the owner’s parent’s home, where they sat on the front lawn shouting and chanting until the police eventually responded and dispersed the crowd in the evening.
Mashonaland East
Bromley / Ruwa - Ploughing with a DDF tractor and private tractors continues on Masun in pastures that have been planted to katambora grass seed.
Enterprise - There appears to be a movement of people back onto farms in the Enterprise area where invaders have previously moved off.
Featherstone - Section 7 Orders have been delivereed to the owners of Loudia and Nyamazaan.
Marondera - Agritex went out to Gwaai farm with the intention of pegging the farm. The owner of Wenimbe spoke to invader Maphosa who insisted that the tenant’s labour vacate their houses on the farm. The owner refused. Maphosa said that they would evict the workers anyway and see ‘who would end up in the mortuary’. Police are attending to the report.
Marondera North - Sheep and oxen have been moved onto Chiparawe farm. Ploughing and planting continue on Seaton and Rakata. The owner of Seaton Farm received a copy of a letter from the war vet base commander to the District War Vets Office with a number of allegations, including that he bought a number of armed white men onto the farm and the son fired a shot into the air. These allegations are false but the invaders are using them to justify taking sterner measures against the farmers. There is still a large group of illegal occupiers on Cambridge.
Macheke / Virginia - Police are going through the district asking to see farmers firearms and licences. It appears that they are more interested in the types of firearm rather than if they are licenced or not. A Section 5 was delivered to Metheven farm.
Wedza - A local invader threatened the foreman and cattlemen of Chakadenga Farm stating that they must not bring cattle into “their” pastures.
Mashonaland West (North)
Karoi - The owner of Nyamanda Farm was severely beaten by illegal occupiers yesterday following an altercation when the invaders attempted to prevent work. A group of about 40 invaders, one armed with a machete, confronted the farmer and at least seven were involved in the attack. The farmer defended himself with a baton, but sustained severe bruising. At least one invader was injured. The matter was reported to the police, but there was no official report book available. Superintendent Mabunda, who had been transferred out of the Karoi District following a meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs, is investigating the case and has instructed that the farmer be charged with assault.
Ayshire - Farms have had Section 7’s.
Tengwe - Illegal ploughing and cattle movement is ongoing on Gwiwa and Pollux. The notorious Superintendent Mabunda continues to be actively involved in the area.
Chinhoyi – Assistant DA Chisepo says they are launching a tillage programme on Zintafuli today and are allocating the farm to 30 people. There are still problems on Listonshiels with ploughing and more people moving onto the farm. Invaders on Long Valley are still planting in lands that are being prepared for soyabeans. Police have been contacted but a confrontation seems inevitable. There is illegal movement of cattle and a new influx of invaders on Magondi Farm and more cattle have been moved onto Magog Farm for ploughing. Tree cutting and planting is ongoing at Oswa Farm.
Trelawney / Darwendale - The DA has notified a farmer representative that Colenso, Taunton, Mwanga Farm will be fast-tracked on Monday. The DA has instructed that the owner of Shirleigh Farm be persuaded to plough for invaders.
Mashonaland West (South)
Norton - ZANU (PF) are active in setting up ZANU (PF) cells on farms. The farm workers are being told that the cells are the authority on the farm and that labour disputes are to be handled by ZANU (PF). This is creating significant problems regarding productivity.
Selous - On Arbor Farm war vets have defied police and are planting maize into pastures in order to incite the owner.
Chegutu - Wing Commander Mazambani, commanding officer of Fylde Air Force Base, continues to head up illegal ploughing and planting on Exwick, which has been de-listed. A guard was kidnapped on Lone Kop Farm whilst trying to follow up a report of a wounded wildebeeste. His automatic shotgun was stolen and the gang then moved north where evidently another person was kidnapped and tied to a tree. Information leaked out that this gang was waiting at Farnham Farm gate where they were going to hold up the owner. In a good community / police reaction the gang was apprehended and their weapons were confiscated. There have now been over 600 people hospitalised from the Mhondoro Anthrax outbreak, however the police, Veterinary Department and DA are still unwilling to sort out the illegal movement of cattle from this area into commercial farming areas. So far nine people have died due to the Anthrax outbreak.
Kadoma/Battlefields - On Collingdale Farm police have reacted regarding illegal planting.
Manicaland
General - The province is reported to be generally quiet.
Chipinge - Ploughing with oxen is taking place on Buffelsdrift, which is not listed. Two DDF tractors, both escorted by an armed policeman and an armed soldier, are ploughing on Groenvlei.
Masvingo
Masvingo East and Central – Ploughing, planting and tree-cutting continues on the half of Southwill Estates that has been claimed by invaders. A Rural District Council tractor is illegally ploughing on Chirdza Ranch.
Chiredzi – Fifty opposition supporters gathered to support the manager of Buffalo Range who was experiencing difficulties with local war vet leader Mutumachanie. There is reliable information that Mutumachanie has subsequently been issued a semi-automatic weapon.
Gutu / Chatsworth - A Section 7 Notice has been served on the owner Southvale
Mwenezi - The DA reports that the second fast-track phase, in which favoured individuals will receive land, will start in the New Year. Section 7 notices have been served on Rutenga Farm (B. Landman) and Altenburg Farm (K. Landman).
Malcolm Vowles, Deputy Director (Admin & Projects). Harare 309800-18. ddap@cfu.co.zw
Mugabe to stay on as party leader
Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party has asked President Robert Mugabe to stay on as party leader.
Delegates at the party congress in Harare agreed 76-year-old Mugabe should retain the post until "the land issue has been resolved".
"There was tumultuous applause when Vice President Muzenda, in his vote of thanks to the president's keynote address, said the congress was asking Comrade Mugabe not to step down until the burning issue had been addressed," reported the Herald newspaper.
Mugabe had been expected to face a leadership challenge at the meeting.
The president opened the congress on Thursday by denouncing Zimbabwe's minority white community.
He also vowed to press ahead with his Government's controversial plan to seize thousands of white-owned farms for resettlement.
Mugabe's militias have illegally occupied 1,700 white-owned farms, triggering political violence which has left more than 30 people dead and 10,000 homeless.
He has described the farm occupations as a justified protest against unfair land ownership by whites.
Mugabe averted a leadership challenge by purging provincial party executives of potential rivals in recent months.
He is expected to appoint a new politburo, the decision-making body of the ZANU-PF, before the end of the conference.
Analysts say power will remain firmly in Mugabe's hands.
Mugabe's aides are confident he will stay on to fight presidential elections in 2001, although Mugabe - struggling politically in the face of a deepening economic crisis - has not yet announced a decision.
Mugabe declares race war
Fuel licence scam exposed