| The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
Police in Zimbabwe again shut down the offices of the country's
only
independent daily newspaper last night in defiance of a court order
allowing
the paper to resume publishing.
The raid was made only hours
after the High Court ordered the government to
let the Daily News reopen. It
was closed last week on charges of "operating
illegally".
Abel
Mutsakani, its deputy editor, said police had promised to comply with
the
High Court order, but had returned to raid the offices while staff
were
preparing today's edition.
"They just came in and ordered
everybody to stop working. It's chaos here
and we don't know what to do," he
said.
Earlier, staff of the Daily News, who had packed the courtroom in
Harare,
cheered loudly as Judge Younis Omerjee granted a court order
requested by
the paper, allowing it to operate pending the outcome of an
application to
register with a government commission.
The judge also
ordered the police to return all computers and other
equipment seized from
the offices of the Daily News and its sister paper,
the Daily News on
Sunday.
Gugulethu Moyo, legal adviser for Associated Newspapers of
Zimbabwe (ANZ),
which owns the Daily News, said last night that the latest
raid was "a
travesty of justice".
The police originally moved in to
shut the title after the Supreme Court,
which is packed with government
supporters, ruled that ANZ had failed to
register with the government, under
new media laws introduced by President
Robert Mugabe.
When this ruling
was overturned yesterday, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, the ANZ chief
executive, said he
would try to return the newspaper to the streets today.
But Mr Mugabe's
government has a record of ignoring court orders it
dislikes, such as orders
blocking the seizure of white farms or the
deportation of
journalists.
Mr Nkomo said his company would sue the police for loss of
business and for
acting vindictively and unlawfully.
Even if the
newspaper can resume publishing, it could still be closed if the
media
commission, headed by a ruling party ideologue Tafataona Mahoso, turns
down
its application. Only one edition of the paper has appeared since it
was
ordered to shut.
The government's battle with the Daily News is being
waged amid evidence of
a wider attempt to silence the opposition. More than
100 pro-democracy
activists were arrested on Wednesday as they protested
against the
newspaper's closure. They were freed yesterday after paying
fines. Despite
concerns at the latest crackdown, Thabo Mbeki, the South
African
President,rebuked white Commonwealth countries pushing for Mr
Mugabe's
isolation yesterday.
JAG OPEN LETTER FORUM
Email: justice@telco.co.zw; justiceforagriculture@zol.co.zw
Internet:
www.justiceforagriculture.com
Please
send any material for publication in the Open Letter Forum to
justice@telco.co.zw with "For Open Letter
Forum" in the subject
line.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
1: Re Open Letters Forum No. 145 Letter 1
John Kinnaird's sentiments in
the Jag Open Letter Forum about the need for
unity amongst farmers must be
applauded but it goes much further than that
Imagine where we might be
today if:
1. All farmers had stood together when the madness started in
February
2000.
2. The Judiciary had stood together when Justice Gubbay was
forced to
resign.
3. All teachers had stood together when "war veterans"
fired some of their
members if they did not belong to the ruling party.
4.
All nurses and doctors had stood together when "green bombers" assaulted
some
of their members if they treated MDC supporters.
5 All farmers had raised
their voices in disgust when the CFU presented
ZJRI to the government and
said land invasions had been "sensationalized."
6. All companies had stood
together when "war veterans" raided businesses
and extorted billions of
dollars.
7. All policemen had stood together when "war veterans" were
recruited and
promoted above them.
8. All journalists and media companies
had stood together and refused to
register with the "Media Ethics
Commission".
Because we, all the people of Zimbabwe regardless of age,
colour, sex or
profession, have been unable to stand together, we now have no
farms, no
food, no fuel, no bank notes, no newspaper and politically skewed
judicial
and security systems. The only way for us to ever to get back
anything
resembling a normal way of life in Zimbabwe is to stand together.
There
comes a time in our lives when acting for the common good must come
before
looking after number one. United we stand, divided we
fall.
cathy buckle,
Marondera.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
2:
Dear Gavin
All men who take public office are very brave
men!
Regards
Jean
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
3: Re JAG Open Letters Forum No. 145 dated 16 September
I refer to the
JAG open letters Forum No 145 dated 16/9/03 and John
Kinnaird letter 'Farming
Today'. Here I finally see someone who has cut
through the manure, sucked the
marrow from the bone and said what has to be
said. Lets hope for more
like-minded Zimbabweans as I am now seeing a few
with whom I
concur.
Frank
Urquhart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter
4: Re JAG Open Letters Forum No. 145 dated 16 September
Dear Mr
Kinnaird,
As a farmer myself, I should like to reply to your
letter.
I agree with many of the points you raised. Yes, the farming
community has
been torn apart by the current situation. However to say that
all farmers
still resident on the land are selfish, greedy, influential,
wealthy and
self-seeking is complete and utter rubbish.
Perhaps you
would care to visit our farm and see for yourself the situation
on the
ground. I have not stood by and watched while our neighbours have
been chased
off their farms, I have not ploughed for war vets on our farm
or on anybody
else's farm. I have tried my hardest to assist our friends
wherever we
can.
We purchased our farm in 1999, it was barren land. We developed what
we
could, building sheds, barns, stables, paddocks, brick staff housing.
We
installed electricity, sunk boreholes and planted a large vegetable
garden.
All this we did with oxen, homemade bricks and materials from the
farm. We
lived in a one-roomed house, with no phone, radio or cell phone.
This was
our choice as it had been our dream to have a thoroughbred stud farm
and
eventually a dairy. All our money was put into this development, none
was
left over for a house for ourselves.
We still have the farm,
although we have had our fair share of troubles. We
have squatters, war-vets,
huts, constant theft, intimidation and fires. Our
labour force have been
subjected to beatings, forced rallies, forced
payments for various
celebrations and continual harassment for working for
white
people.
Amidst all of this, we have still tried to help neighbours
whenever we can,
be it controlling fires, helping locate stolen property,
stolen cattle etc.
Our staff have willingly helped on all occasions.
Reprisals have come about
because of this, visits of over 50 thugs with guns,
knives and sticks is a
regular occurrence. Our oxen have been commandeered as
punishment, our
staff have been made to cut firewood for these war-veterans
for daring to
help neighbours, and yet we still try our best.
We no
longer have any immediate neighbours, but the very few farmers left
in the
area are always willing to help.
I wonder in town if you were being
burgled how many of your neighbours come
to your assistance, and if they do,
would they still continue to do so if
the very next day they had a band of
thugs turn up threatening them with
guns and knives?
I also would like
to know how many people in town have actively supported
the farming
community? (Many have, I am sure - but how many have also
profiteered from
other people's suffering?) House prices are all quoted in
US dollars, and the
feeling from agents I have spoken to is, let us lease
to a farmer as they
have no choice.....Do you still buy sugar, bread, milk,
cheese, vegetables,
maize,flour? Are you always aware of where these
products are coming
from?
Why not boycott? Why not show solidarity with the beleaguered
farming
community, instead of continually pointing fingers and saying
sell-out,
your judgement time will come?
Many people I speak to in
town, get a rather glazed look when I talk of
troubles on the farm - but
mention that you have heard they might start
listing houses soon and watch
the reaction...I have found it very
enlightening.
Yes, there are
farmers who have done deals. What deals are you doing for
fuel? Perhaps you
ride a bicycle or walk?
How do you get cash, do you queue everyday for
five thousand dollars?
Remember that most people have to cope the best
way they can, circumstances
dictating. I can assure you it is not always easy
to take the moral high
ground when you have a gun pointing at you, your
family and your staff.
Signed
Still on farm and conscience clear - is
yours?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All
letters published on the open Letter Forum are the views and opinions
of the
submitters, and do not represent the official viewpoint of Justice
for
Agriculture.
The Herald
State to recruit specialists to boost land reform
programme
Herald Reporter
The Government is recruiting 586 engineers,
technicians, agricultural
specialists, chief technicians and economists to
boost the land reform
programme.
The engineers and technicians would
be posted to branches, districts and
provinces throughout the country under
the Department of Agri-cultural
Engineering and Technical
Servi-ces.
Chief technicians, agricultural specialists and economists
would be posted
at a provincial level.
Officials in the Lands,
Agricultural and Rural Resettle-ment Ministry told
The Herald yesterday the
recruitment was necessitated by demand created by
the land reform
programme.
At least 300 000 families were resettled under the Model A1,
while more than
50 000 others successfully applied under the Model
A2.
This means the number of farmers that need to be advised by experts
has
increased throughout the country.
Technicians to be recruited
would be responsible for pegging of contour
ridges, waterways and storm
ridges and conducting field demonstrations on
tillage techniques.
They
would also do topographical surveys for dams, weirs and farm buildings,
train
farmers in maintenance of tractors and machinery, peg farm roads,
test
irrigation equipment and develop it and train farmers in all aspects
for
agricultural engineering for farm situations.
Engineers would be
responsible for soil and water conservation, irrigation
engineering, farm
power and machinery, farm structures and environmental
engineering and
agricultural produce handling.
Agricultural specialists would develop and
extend agricul-tural produce
handling facilities for commodities such as
tobacco, mushroom and livestock
and develop post harvest technologies of
grain and perishable crops.
Economists would carry out baseline studies
on major proposed engineering
projects, establish costs of operating
engineering equipment and undertake
cost-benefit analysis of engineering
technologies and projects.
The Herald
Forex shortages continue affecting fuel
procurement
Herald Reporter
OIL companies are failing to import a
substantial amount of fuel since the
deregulation of the industry last month
because of lack of foreign cur-
rency.
The Minister of Energy and
Power Development Cde Amos Midzi said yesterday
the Government would continue
discussions with the companies to find a
lasting solution to their
problems.
"We are meeting the oil industry and we will continue to meet
them to see
how we can go around the problems they are facing," Cde Midzi
said.
The oil companies on Wednesday advised motorists to be patient as
efforts
were underway to ensure they were supplied with the com-
modity.
Long queues that formed at some filling stations in Harare last
week have
since disappeared as hopes of fresh supplies vanish.
Some
oil companies briefly supplied fuel to the service stations following
the
announcement of deregulation by the Government.
But the fuel they were
selling had been stored at depots before deregulation
and it has since run
out.
Oil industry officials yesterday said they had failed to import fuel
because
of lack of foreign currency.
"Fuel supplies have been limited
in the past week and motorists are asked to
maintain the patience as a
lasting solution to fuel deliveries is sought by
stakeholders," the companies
said in their weekly update, Fuel Facts.
"The scarcity of forex continues
to have a detrimental effect on the
procurement of fuel, but the industry is
confident that once that is
resolved fuel deliveries can be implemented
speedily."
The companies said although efforts were being made to keep
the price of
fuel affordable, market-related prices would be adopted to
ensure the
viability of the industry and the sustainability of
supplies.
The Government increased the pump price of fuel for the oil
companies last
month as part of the deregulation of the industry to ensure
viabi- lity.
But some of the companies maintained the prices should be
increased further
if they were to import more fuel.
The new prices
would operate under a two-tier system to cushion the
travelling public and to
support farmers through making fuel available at
affordable
prices.
Under the new system that ended Noczim's monopoly in the
procurement of
fuel, oil companies undertook to sell petrol at $1 170 a litre
with diesel
going at $1 060 a litre.
Noczim would continue to supply
the Government, parastatals and pubic
transport operators at the old price of
$450 a litre for petrol and $200 a
litre for diesel.
The country
started experiencing fuel shortages at the end of 1999 because
of the
shortage of foreign currency.
Individuals and some companies were
importing fuel and taking advantage of
the situation to sell it at prices
charged on the black market.
Until the introduction of the dual pricing
system, petrol was being sold at
between $1 800 and $2 500 a litre while
diesel went for between $1 500 and
$2 000 a litre.
The deregulation of
the industry was expected to improve the fuel supply in
the country.
Sunday Times (SA)
Zimbabwe to appeal Daily News ruling
Friday
September 19, 2003 07:23 - (SA)
HARARE - The Zimbabwe government said
late yesterday it would appeal against
a High Court ruling overturning the
forced closure of the country's only
independent daily newspaper, state
television reported.
"We've been asked to appeal against this order,"
acting attorney-general,
Bharat Patel told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation (ZBC).
Earlier the High Court ruled that the Daily News - an
outspoken paper
frequently accused by the government of President Robert
Mugabe of being
biased in favour of the opposition - could resume
publishing.
The paper was shut down by police last week after the Supreme
Court,
Zimbabwe's top court, ruled it was operating illegally because it had
not
registered with a government media commission.
Judge Yunis Omerjee
said yesterday the paper should be allowed to resume
publishing since it had
filed an application to register with the media
commission earlier this
week.
He also said equipment confiscated by the police should be
returned.
Patel said he hoped the appeal would be filed
yesterday.
"If we can't get that achieved tonight we'll be hoping to do
it first thing
Friday morning," Patel said.
AFP
The Star
Nigeria left with Mugabe hot potato
September 19,
2003
By John Battersby
President Thabo Mbeki has
passed the buck to his Nigerian counterpart
to decide whether Robert Mugabe
should attend the Commonwealth heads of
government summit in
Nigeria.
Mbeki said in parliament yesterday it was up to Nigerian
President
Olusegun Obasanjo, as the host of the summit, to decide whether
Zimbabwean
President Mugabe would be invited to the December
summit.
The Commonwealth secretariat in London says Zimbabwe should
not be
invited following its suspension from the Commonwealth last year,
while the
South African government and ruling ANC maintain there is no reason
why he
should not be invited.
The Commonwealth secretariat says
neither Pakistan nor Zimbabwe should
be invited, because both have been
suspended from the Commonwealth.
The Australian government has
said Nigeria had agreed not to invite
Zimbabwe. However, Nigeria has
indicated that while it had not sent out an
invitation to Zimbabwe, it was
keeping its options open.
In response to a question as to whether
he and United States President
George Bush had agreed on deadlines or target
dates for elections in
Zimbabwe, Mbeki said they had agreed on the urgency of
addressing the
political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe and that the
primary
responsibility lay with the people of Zimbabwe.
"We
continue to work with the US government (on Zimbabwe)," he said. -
Group
Political Editor
SOKWANELE
PROMOTING NON VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE
DEMOCRACY.
Information about illegal hunting
and poaching.
Information Contained in this
Document:
1. Zimbabwe hunting report
including support information
2. Relevant articles from
newspaper about the situation in
Zimbabwe.
the following information is currently being
collected and will be forwarded.
·
Report from Zimbabwe Wildlife Society
·
Report
from SPCA
·
Report
from the Lowveld – adjacent to Gonarezhou National Park (part of the beleaguered
Transfrontier National Park – a joint project between South Africa, Mozambique
and Zimbabwe.)
·
A
selection of zanu pf propaganda reports
·
Extensive
photographic evidence
The
information contained below has been verified to the best of our ability under
difficult and sometimes confusing circumstances.
we
welcome any queries.
ZIMBABWE Hunting
report
AUGUST 2003
Due to the present regime’s disastrous land reform programme, poaching and illegal hunting on farms, which were seized from their rightful owners, have become rife. Only a handful of the legal property owners remain. The rest have been evicted by ruling party henchmen. There is no law and order. Poaching and uncontrolled hunting is everywhere.
One such area that has been affected with dire consequence is the Gwaai Valley Conservancy, in the west of the country. This Conservancy was established 1995/6 and was strictly controlled by the regulatory body, the Intensive Conservation Authority (ICA). This watchdog body had the full support and was accredited by numerous international conservation organizations.
In the past, at the start of each hunting season, individual members of the Conservancy had to submit their requests for hunting quotas to the ICA, who then rationalized the information to ensure the Conservancy was not “over hunted”. The applications were then passed on to the National Parks and Wildlife Management (NPWM).
The Gwaai Valley Conservancy once stood as an outstanding example of sustainable development in a wildlife area, with prolific game and huge ecotourism potential. Today, not one of the Conservancy members remains in the Gwaai. Its game has been reduced to an estimated 20% of its previous glory and the people left there are all on the verge of starvation.
Early in July 2003, all farmers in this area, which borders Hwange National Park, were evicted. The Conservancy has now fallen prey to unscrupulous hunting/safari operators from neighbouring South Africa and Botswana. Other areas affected are Bubiana Conservancy, Matetsi and West Nicholson. Few, if any, of these illegal hunters have been registered by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism and do not hold accreditation with the Zimbabwe Association of Tourism and Safari Operators. In addition, these hunters are working against legislation that declares that in Zimbabwe operators should either own or hold a lease on a suitable concession of land with accompanying animal quota. Some animals also require a Conference for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit, such as crocodile, leopard and cheetah.
Rates charged by the settlers are far below the going rate and not one cent generated by these illegal hunts is coming back into Zimbabwe. Evidence for this theft is that illegal operators do not adhere to the legislation that requires the foreign currency generated be deposited with the Reserve Bank with the necessary documentation.
Not only is the country losing the precious foreign currency, but in the past the legal property owners in the conservancy would also put a percentage of the money generated from hunting back into improvements, building up stock and wildlife management. This is obviously not being done by the illegal occupants.
We must act now before
it is too late.
|
Name of Farm |
Illegitimate State Beneficiary (or A2
Settler) |
|
Lot 1 Dete Valley Farm |
Ruben Makanla (ex International Red Cross
Employee)
Jabulani Mpofu |
|
Lot 2 Dete Valley - Lanamie Ranch |
Eternity Trading (Pvt)Ltd Director – Jonathan Moyo
(Zanu PF Information
Minister) |
|
Lot 3 Dete
Valley (Lion Ranch) |
Mrs Alice Nkomo (Mzingili
Safaris) Cain Matema (Zimbabwe
Ambassador to Zambia) |
|
Sekumi
Estates |
Jacob Mudenda (Chairman of ZanuPF for
Matabeleland North) Clifford Sibanda Prisca Utete (ZBC
manager) |
|
Farm 31 –
Railway Farm (owner Delta Corp/Zim Sun)
|
Headman Sibanda (ex National Parks) |
|
Antoinette Ranch (owner Sikumi Pvt Ltd) |
Alexas Chiasa David Ntini Mhlanga |
|
Goodluck Ranch |
Mark Russell (Current
National Parks employee –Warden for Sinematela Camp) Headman Moyo Curtain up Enterprises |
|
Farm 35 – Railway Farm |
Masala Sibanda |
|
Chamankanu
Farm |
Chris Dube Joel Matema (owns beer/store in Lupane)
Bernard Lodlo (Lupani District Council
employee) |
|
Lugo Ranch |
|
|
Sotani Ranch |
Tshuma Ncube Chief Mubikwa (The current “gardener” at this farm is actually a National Parks employee.)
|
|
Skukunwa |
|
|
Hankano Ranch |
|
|
Umkombo Ranch |
|
|
Karna Block/Comwood Ranch |
|
|
Gwaai Ranch |
|
|
Karna Block West Registered as Tsankaruka Safaris |
Chief Joseph Dingani |
|
Karna Block East |
Dr Zhisiiri (Officer in Charge Matabeleland North – Veterinary Department) |
|
Farm 41 |
Obert Mpofu (Governor Matabeleland North) |
|
Kanando |
Obert Mpofu (Governor
Matabeleland North) |
Unauthorized Hunting/Safari
Operators,
operating in the Gwaai
Conservancy.
Owners: Dawie Groenwaldt
Janeman Groenwaldt
Glen Van Rensburg
Nick Van Rensburg
Zimbabwe connection/operator - E K Safaris (Ed Kadzombe)
- Jacob Mudenda
Professional Hunters: Albert Padarizi – ex National Parks Pilot
Dawie Van Der Westhuizen (from Karoi)
American Agent: Richard Putman from Seminole, Alabama
Website: www.seminolesafaris.com
Vehicle numbers: DDM850N
MWF519N
Reported to be
hunting on Goodluck Farm and Chimwara Farm.
Owners: Piet Uys
Hendrik Uys
Vehicle registration numbers: MWZ918GP – landcruiser p/u
FBD185N – white Toyota twincab
DPK173N – beige Landcruiser p/u
Reportedly hunting on: Goodluck
Railway Farm 37
Hankana Ranch
Gwaai Ranch
Between the 20-30 August Out of Africa and Northern
Weapons were seen hunting in the Gwaai area.
Zimbabwean farmers questioned illegal hunters on their farm. The name given to them of the South African hunters are:
Andre de Jaager Vehicle registration number: DMT498GP - Blue Landrover
R M Saunders – resides at Jacks Rand Heart – Alberton
Zimbabwe connection/operator – Elephant Eye Safaris
The above were seen in the company of three American
hunters. De Jaager shot and wounded a
buffalo on Sotani Ranch.
De Jaager is staying at the lodge on Chamankanu
farm. He has also been seen hunting on
Lugo and Skukungwa farms.
He has been arrested twice for hunting illegally on
Skukungwa farm.
Relevant hunter: Mark Sparrow – based in Pietersburg.
Sparrow has been hunting on Hankana Ranch and wants to
start a fishing safari business in Masuna island on the Zambezi. He has already made offers to property owners
from Masuna. This desire to purchase
land is not illegal, but is an indication of his presence in the
area.
Zim cell number: 011 211 080
Rsa cell number: 082 477 3620
Vehicle registration number 587 150F
He is involved with
the Uys brothers of Northern Weapons, Louis
Trichardt.
Zimbabwean Operators
Shaun Steyn
(Father Basil owns one of Southern Africa’s largest curio export companies, based in Bulawayo)
Partner:- Joshua Nkomo’s daughter
Hunted on Railway Farm 31 which is now owned by Delta
Corporation/Zim Suns and leased to hitherto unknown
entity.
Professional hunters - Jed Moyo
- Gary
Hopkins
- Ben Matawadzi - owner
Hunting on Antionette
Ivory Safaris
Pofessional Hunter – Bagman Chauke – hunting on farm LOT 1
Jerome Sefredi –
French national selling hunts to French
community.
Jerome’s vehicle registration number:- 797-669F
Professional Hunter: Headman Ncube
This company is using Chamankanu Farm’s operator’s license (number 0008) without the farm owner’s permission and on their prehunts have put the name Ugere/bo (Pvt) Ltd.
National Parks signed a blank prehunt form for their activities and on another quota application the company Dream Merchant Safaris, Box 56 Dete, was used, but gave no client information and it does not state what farm the hunt was to take place on.
They also have a prehunt form for a hippo.
Enio di Palma – owner (resident in Bulawayo)
Jacob Mudenda – consultant/associate (Chairman for ZanuPF Matabeleland North)
Been hunting on Goodluck
Operating in Matetsi and Kadoma
Company:- Curtain up
Enterprises
New beneficiaries of Goodluck.
They have a Dete postbox and have been hunting on Goodluck.
Evans Mukanza
In June 2003 he stated to reliable sources that he is
able to supply buffalo and elephant out of Sinamatella (This is within the
National Park).
Elias Marfu – warden at Main camp – Malinde farm
Mark Russell – senior ranger Sinamatella – Goodluck Ranch
Headman Sibanda – previously retired from National Parks -
Albert Paradzi – pilot – previous employee of National Parks
Bagman Chouke – previous employee of National Parks
Mark Russell was recently seen driving a National Parks
vehicle loaded with a full fuel drum and fuel containers from Sinamatella camp
(Hwange National Park) to Goodluck farm.
In August 2003 he was seen in Bulawayo in the company of
South African hunters.
Dr Zhisiiri – Officer in charge Mat North – A2 beneficiary of Karna Block East.
Hippo and reedbuck are on quota issued for this area this season.
There has never been a quota on this property for bushbuck.
This quota was issued to Game View Safaris. P O Box 400 – Bulawayo. The size of the property is incorrect on the quota form.
No lioness on quota for this property.
Bushbuck require a special permit – none were issued.
The conservancy does not allow the hunting of hippo.
3 Animals shot were not on the quota and 2 animals had already exceeded the season’s quota.
9 Buffalo, 3 Sable, 4 Impala, 1 Bushpig, 2 Zebra, 1 Leopard, 1 Elephant, 2 Kudu,
3 Bushbuck, 1 Hippo, 2 Waterbuck.
. Animals shot on Chimwara Farm – zebra, bushbuck, giraffe and impala.
Bindonvale\Carlisa (owned by a German
National)
Clifford Sibanda and Mark Russell ransacked the camp and took all the teak furniture for their operation. Removed all the window and door frames. Fencing has also been stolen.
Sikumi Estate – Crocodile farm. The crocodiles went without food for 10 days, as the property owner was not allowed on to the property. The crocodiles started eating each other.
1000 crocodiles have died as they were not fed since 21 June 03.(unconfirmed)
Lion Ranch – Two tame lions went without food for 10 days, as the property owner was not allowed on to the property.
Lot 2 Dete Valley Farm - A tracking collar off a lioness (Lion research collar), was found in the homestead.
Hwange Safari Lodge Hunters are reported to be staying at this hotel, major shareholders are ZanuPF. One of the companies is Out of Africa Safaris.
24 July – 3 South African Landcruisers were seen in the area. All vehicles had removed their number plates. An occupant of one vehicle were seen bribing the official at the veterinary road block. Another was seen driving onto Goodluck Farm.
Hunting blinds have been built at a number of water points.
2 September - four Americans were seen arriving in Victoria Falls. They were collected by a South African operator and were overheard saying they wanted to shoot as much as possible.
4 September - At approximately 11h00 – a white landrover
belonging to Out of Africa Safaris was seen dropping zebra meat at the PTC
offices in Vic Falls. Vehicle
registration FBT052N. Public vehicles
are not permitted into this area.
4 September - Many of the rightful Gwaai
property owners are now being threatened by the new
settlers.
Hunting at waterpoints is taking place. This is
unethical.
15 September 2003 – Three vehicles were seen
in Bulawayo – All from Out of Africa Safaris.
White Landrover defender’s – double cab’s. Two had American clients with them. Vehicle registration numbers FBG847N,
FBR649N.
September 2003 – Out of Africa have been
seen driving in Hwange National Park.
September 2003 – Mpandamatenga Border
Post. A South African Landcruiser was
seen coming through the border post into Zimbabwe. On checking the register it was noted that
the driver had entered the incorrect details of the vehicle. He stated he was driving a Mercedes
vehicle.
Vehicle
numbers
These vehicles were involved in the eviction of the farmers and their workers
765-949C – Zanu PF
777 475F – Zanu PF
779 269F – Zanu PF
781 098T – Zanu PF
779 064H – Zanu PF
Two shotguns and a rifle were stolen from Lions Den on the night of one farm eviction. The following day the police came and took all the weapons and ammunition from this property. No ZRP receipt was given. They also searched the offices.
An AK47 and two pistols were seen on War Veterans, the night of the evictions from Lions Den.
Staff
On Lions Den the staff were evicted from their homes on 21 June 2003 at 18h30 and made to stand out in the cold (our coldest and wet winter in 30 years) till 1am. They were then loaded on vehicles and dumped on the side of a road.. They were eventually found at 3am by the farmer and moved to safety and shelter.
Homesteads
Homesteads were ransacked and striped of fixtures and fittings. One homestead has not been touched and it is believed that Ruben Nklanga wants this home.
An example of how one of the farms in the
conservancy
managed their game prior to
eviction.
Buffalo
1200
Wildebeeste
60
Giraffe
3
Zebra
60
Hippo
6
Kudu
40
Impala
90 Reedbuck
6
Eland
1500
Tssessebe 8 –
protected
Sable
90
Warthogs
30
Hyena
20
Elephant
150
Lion
12 – nomadic Leopard
male 4 –
territorial
Wilddog
8 Leopard f/male 8
Baboons
120
Hunting quota for the year submitted to relevant
authorities.