via Mugabe utterances spawn farm invasions – The Zimbabwe Independent July 25, 2014 by Elias Mambo
ZANU PF activists including war veterans have reportedly embarked on a renewed farm invasion spree in many parts of the country, disrupting operations at mostly the few remaining white-owned farms, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.
The fresh wave of invasions come after President Robert Mugabe told a Zanu PF supporters at Chipfundi Farm in Mhangura during the launch of the A1 (small scale commercial farm) permits that the remaining whites should not be allowed to own land in Zimbabwe.
Sources at the lands offices in Masvingo, Bulawayo and Mashonaland Central said since Mugabe’s utterances there has been increased interest in taking over farms run by the remaining white commercial farmers.
There are only between 100 and 150 white farmers left in Zimbabwe, according to CFU director Hendricks Olivier, down from 6 500 at Independence in 1980.
“We have received numerous calls from interested parties identifying farms that are still being run by white farmers,” one source from Masvingo said.
Commercial Farmers Union president Charles Taffs said they were receiving reports of fresh invasions on a daily basis.
“The invasions have not stopped and now they are even targeting other black farmers,” Taffs said, adding: “We are receiving reports everyday of such harassment.
“The statement made by the president was not helpful although we do not see it as policy.”
Taffs also said some opportunists are now taking advantage of the statement to grab farms owned by whites.
A week ago more than 100 Zanu PF supporters invaded Mazwi Game and Nature Reserve in St Peter’s on the western outskirts of Bulawayo allegedly with the blessing of the party’s provincial leadership.
Chaos is brewing in Masvingo amid reports war veterans are targeting farms owned by black farmers whom they accuse of fronting for white farmers. Violence broke out at Masvingo East farms where a farmer is reportedly battling for his life at Masvingo General Hospital after he was struck with an axe in the head by war veterans at the weekend.
Some of the Masvingo East farms that have since been invaded include Nidspruit, Potyo, Thankerton, Chigumedhe, Mudzikisi, Chipare, Pakai and Mukuta.
However in an interview with the Independent, Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora said he was not aware of such invasions.
“I am currently out of the country and not aware of such activities,” Mombeshora said.
COMMENTS
Let them take the farms. They won’t succeed, and in 20 years the white farmers will come back on 99 year leases.
Get real. Who will be able to afford to go back to their farm? It will be like pioneering all over again. There is no infrastructure left cos most of it has been sold off. Take a flight over Zimbabwe and try to count the farms that are being properly farmed.
This is getting more & more ridiculous. Let’s kick out the remaining few PRODUCTIVE farmers & replace them with people that don’t know anything about commercial farming & if the economy fails it’s the da(m)n sanctions they imposed on us! Nice!
Thanks to the freewheeling ZANU PF regime and their new friends the EU,destined back to Mugabe as of 1st November reportedly.They have by their stance,purported to the world that all is now fine in Zim.How do they explain these new developments?
Where is Douglas out the country,, what looking for funding for the new famer . I hope the war vet in mazvingo dies from him brothers axe , stupid , bob has no idea what’s going on even grace eye the top post
Zambia’s agric sector is booming. Even the village idiot sata is poking fun at our donkey govt
The least productive person in Zimbabwe is Mugabe himself. He has done nothing productive since last July and is good for nothing but causing dissension whenever he opens his mouth. Regrettably Mr Taffs whatever he says does become policy because ZPF don’t heed their own laws.