COMMERCIAL FARMERS'
UNION
INFORMATION ROOM
FARM INVASIONS UPDATE - 22 APRIL 2000
Continuous invasions
occurr around the country, mainly Enterprise,
Chinhoyi, Bulawayo and
some farms in Mashonaland Central. This is of
concern to farmers
although fortunately these are generally of a
peaceful
nature.
Mashonaland Central
1.Farm house burnt out at Mukore, on the evening of April 20th
in Shamva area, belonging to Chris Kearns. Specifically
targetted.
2.Many minor incidents. Most notable being that
a work stoppage was reversed by a delegation of war veterans addressing
invaders saying occupations must be peaceful
and not intefere with production. Directive from Governor!
3.Mvurwi : one new invasion early last night. Munera
Farm, farmer called Garnett Bonsor. Centenary, Horseshoe, Tsatsi,
Mazowe quiet.
Five families evacuated Victory
Block because there were sightings of two gangs of people carrying heavy
duffel bags.
Harare West:
Quality Flowers
were invaded by 200 people. So far peaceful butcould flare up
because close to Harare.
Bindura/Mtepatepa:
compound beatings and intimidation generally.
Intimidation on Don Cocker's Azikira Farm. Don was called out to
shoot a snake, which he did with a
shotgun. Later the Vets demanded to be able to look at the gun,
which Don allowed. They have taken it to the police - will
get back tomorrow.
Ashcroft Farm, farmer Thurlow:
20 labour beaten. Some houses trashed.
Minor intimidation on
Richard Tate'sfarm.
Minto Farm, Colleen
Hamner. Vets told her not to water wheat she's just planted.
4.Shamva: there had been some beatings in Wadzanai
Township, not serious but a lot of them.
Ian Millar (owner) and
Keith McGaw (manager) (Dawnill Farm) beaten up
but back on the farm intact.
Nodetails. ZRP helped.
No change to Vet presence generally.
5.Glendale:
Quiet.
Two or three farms with vets. The number on Avonduur
Farm has slowly increased to 15 people.
Threats in
compound but no beatings.
Ant Elliott (Van Abo)
told not to plant.
6.Glendale/Concession: Nevill du Randt
of Summerdale Farm reports a presence of about 15 people, some
intimidation has resulted.
Peter McDonald
of Mazowe, Makalanga Farm had quite a large visitation and was asked to
sign over portion of his farm. It is understood
that he did so.
Mashonaland East
Macheke/Virginia areas very quiet and farmers are beginning to
move back on farm.
Meetings have been held with various groups of
War Vets and the outcome appears to be positive and as a result farmers
areencouraged to move back on farm.
Eastern half of
the region is very quiet.
Chairman of the Mashonaland East War
Veterans' Association is visiting various groups of War Vets and is
defusing the situation.
He visited Ian Kay's farm and will be
visiting farms in the Murehwa and Enterprise> areas to talk to War
Vets.
Enterprise has had new invasions of approximately 4 or 5
properties that have occurred. The area is still tense.
Mashonaland West North
Area appears to be
quiet at this stage. Negotiating teams to be set up> in various
areas as soon as possible to only negotiate peace and not negotiate
land. Poaching is on the increase piggy backing on War Vets.
Mashonaland West South
Quiet.
Masvingo
Large military deployment confirmed moving
towards Ngundu Halt. There are 4 to 5 troop carriers, appears to
be camping gear and people in the area are going to monitor the
situation closely. A light blue Mazda pick-up visited two
properties yesterday afternoon looking for weapons. The owner
and/or driver of the vehicle goes under the name of "Ma Fruit" and he is
an ex-school teacher from Mwaksine. The occupants of the vehicle
are War Vets. One farm refused entry and the War Vets said they
would return with reinforcements. Another vehicle with six
occupants visited Maranatha Ranch to buy groceries from the farm
store. The security guard advised them that the store was closed
due to the holidays - they demanded to see the owner. An interview
was not given and they threatened to return with reinforcements.
The ZRP were contacted and attended the scene but there has been
no incident.
Chiredzi: Two more farms have been
invaded, Humani Ranch belonging to P. Whittal and Masapas Ranch, owned
by Peter Henning. Numbers are unknown.
The rest
of the area has been generally quiet.
Matabeleland
1.Death threats on selected
individuals.
2.Morning meeting 22 Apr 2000 with Hunzvi and
local war vets at Tete River Lodge.
"Hit team" believed to
be in attendance.
3.A lot of pedestrian movement, more so
than usual weekend traffic.
4.Hunzvi rally in Hwange on
Thursday 20 April. A farmer's name was mentioned and there were
death threats made.
5.A Hunzvi rally will be held in
Mutetsi tomorrow.
6.Four heavy duty vehicles were seen
moving along the BulawayoAirport Road to the Inyati area.
7.Approximately 150 War Vets have invaded Kershelmar Farm
in Nyamandhlovu today. The owner Mr Swindell is not present on
the property and both farm managers have moved
into Bulawayo.
8.War Vets set up a road block on the
Victoria Falls Road yesterday which disrupted traffic. The road
block has now been dismantled.
9.Minister Msika holding an
inauguration rally in Bulawayo today.
Midlands
1.Sanjo Ranch was looted by Vets and suspected
involvement of Police on 21 April. Owner was away on leave.
Otherwise nothing in particular in the
area.
Manicaland
Nothing to report.