Minister pleads with court against farmer eviction

Local Government deputy minister Christopher Chingosho (pictured) has taken the unusual step of writing to Rusape Magistrates’ Court to stop the eviction of a white commercial farmer, Robert Smart, in his Headlands constituency, claiming those who wanted to remove him are acting irrationally.

Source: Minister pleads with court against farmer eviction – NewsDay Zimbabwe October 22, 2016

BY OBEY MANAYITI

In a clear case of factionalism in the ruling Zanu PF, Chingosho claimed Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene was pushing for the acquisition of the farm, as a way of decampaigning him ahead of the 2018 elections.

However, for his troubles, the deputy minister may earn the wrath of President Robert Mugabe, who has always accused some Zanu PF members of protecting white farmers.

In the letter, Chingosho said Lesbury Estates was downsized from 8 500 to just 700 hectares and that Smart enjoyed a good relationship with the local community, which he helps with farming inputs and infrastructure.

The deputy minister has also approached Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora over the same estate, saying its acquisition will disadvantage the community.

“Lesbury Estate, which has 8 500 hectares was acquired by the government and downsized leaving Smart with 700 hectares on the consideration that he has good relations with the local community, which he helps in many ways, such as helping the local community with agricultural inputs, construction of school and clinic, paying school fees for disadvantaged pupils etc,” he wrote in a letter dated September 2 this year.

“The minister of State Mandi Chimene decided against the wishes of the community and myself, as the local MP, to misuse her powers to have the 700 hectares left with Smart be acquired, just to fix the local community, which does not support her and me as the local MP because she is de-campaigning me. She wants me to lose in 2018.”

Senior Zanu PF officials are accused of burning the midnight oil to de-campaign each other along factional lines.

In a letter dated January 18 to Mombeshora, Chingosho said Smart had planted mushrooms at the farm, producing about 20 000kg for the local market.

“He has 110 permanent employees and 40 casual labourers, runs a primary school with 220 pupils and is in the process of establishing a secondary school and a clinic,” he wrote.

According to Chingosho, Smart is one of the five white commercial farmers in his constituency that are doing well in both farming production and maintaining good relations with local community.

He said according to the government policy administered by the Lands ministry, white farmers, who maintain good relations with the community must be spared from acquisition.

Although Chingosho was not available for comment yesterday, Chimene described his behaviour as deplorable, saying he was trying to interfere with the Judiciary and other ministries.

“Why is he trying to protect that white farmer? Does that mean he was given a protection fee so that he protects the farmer from being removed from the farm?

“Part of that farm was taken and the white farmer was left with a very big part that we need to share,” she thundered. “I am not the one who initiated the process. When I was appointed minister I only signed the offer letters, so it is not true that I want him to lose in 2018. Will that white farmer make him win? The deputy minister must be told not to do those shameful things.”

Chimene equated Chingosho’s behaviour to that of former legislator, Didymus Mutasa, who was sacked by Zanu PF.

“I haven’t interfered in his ministry. Why is he interfering in mine? If he wants to be Provincial Affairs minister, he must talk to President Mugabe and stop writing those useless letters,” she said. “Why is he writing those letters to the magistrate? It’s obvious that he wants to interfere with the Judiciary.”