COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION - FARM INVASIONS UPDATE - MONDAY 22 MAY 2000
REGIONAL REPORTS
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Centenary - All quiet.
Horseshoe - Two rallies held in the area with 100% attendance by
farmers. The numbers from one compound were low and youths arrived by
tractor to beat up two women and throw their babies on the ground for
not attending the rally. Four arrests have been made. Emphasis on the
ballot not being secret was made at both rallies.
Victory Block - A ZANU PF rally held with no problems occurring.
Mvurwi - Following a ZANU PF rally the MDC candidate for the area had
his house trashed and his wife beaten. The situation is tense but under
control. Forrester 'D' was revisited and reports of labour being
assaulted on Macambiri Farm. The owner of Four Streams Farm was locked
in the shed and the ZRP was called. No further details are known at
present. A red single cab Isuzu pick-up was commandeered and was seen
heading to Centenary handing out ZANU PF pamphlets.
Tsatsi - It is reported that Thomas Mujuru is in the area but all is
quiet at present.
Glendale - ZANU PF rallies held with no problems and all quiet.
Mazowe/Concession - At a large rally held at Christon Bank the emphasis
was on curbing the violence.
Shamva - Quiet.
Harare West/Nyabira - A new invasion of approx 20 war vets occurred on
Adlan Farm, demanding beer and sight of farmer's weapons and licences.
The farmers was accused of selling weapons to MDC but once the licences
had been examined the invaders left the farm. A rally at Hatcliffe
addressed by the MP for Harare North took place with no incidents.
MASVINGO
Mwenezi - War Vets from Sonop Ranch have moved onto Quagga Pan Ranch.
Between 300-350 people arrived at the security fence shouting and
chanting, and are pegging out plots. Have instructed the farmer to
obtain their permission to shoot for his own consumption and to supply
them first. Chiredzi Police reacted but did not remove them. They have
moved to another part of the farm. A meeting on Flora Ranch was
attended by War Vets and people from Bubi Ranch. They are pegging out
plots and local farm labourers have joined in.
Chiredzi - A War Vet meeting was held on Malilangwe Ranch, to which the
owner was not invited.
Masvingo East/Central - Quiet. Local 'hot spots' were visited yesterday
and tense situations were defused.
Save Conservancy Area - a CFU representative will be visiting ranches to
defuse tense situations and re-establish veterinary maintenance unit.
Gutu/Chatsworth - Local 'hot spots' were visited yesterday to defuse
tense situations. Negotiations are taking place regarding a threat to a
farmer and his worker. It appears that ZANU PF youths have moved in
from the Midlands area. The Provincial War Vet Chairman has taken it
upon himself to defuse this situation.
MASHONALAND EAST
Macheke/Virginia - Pungwe sessions are ongoing in the district but they
appear to be peaceful. The demands for transport and cattle are ongoing.
Bromley/Ruwa/Enterprise - Nothing to report
Wedza - Dean: The war vets have pegged another 100ha of arable land.
Fels: On the weekend there was drum beating and singing. A meeting was
held with the labourers and war vets from surrounding farms which
resulted in the formation of a Youth Committee for the ZANU PF
supporters. They then went on to peg the last 900ha of arable land.
Dudley: Another 8 war vets arrived yesterday to peg the land.
Corby: 3 people arrived to peg land near the top of the farm. One cow
has been missing for 5 days.
Harare South/Beatrice - Neighbourhood Watch report: With support from
the police and the provincial and local war veteran leadership,
neighbourhood watch has been reinstated in the Harare South and Beatrice
area. The district is finding it onerous but beneficial.
Pinhoe: The feud was resolved when the war veterans realised that the
boundary fence had been stolen. Lisbon Extension: Some fencing has been
stolen by the war veterans
Gemini/Gwalia: New invasion yesterday of about 10 people.
Fresneye: The war veterans went to a tenant's house on the farm and
questioned the staff as to how the farmer treated them, and said if they
had any problems they should report it to the war vets.
Rocklands: There are a couple of hundred present on the farm at stages.
They are a violent lot and have been issuing threats on the telephone.
Marondera South - Toplands: On Sunday afternoon the owner's brother
entered the farm cottage whilst 12 of the 14 resident war vets were
attending a ZANU PF rally and agreed with the remaining 2 that he would
remove their belongings from the cottage and lock it. On Saturday
afternoon a crowd moved onto Lydiasdale Farm and demanded more land than
the farmer had previously signed over to them.
Igava: He has been instructed not to continue with land preparation
today.
Sablevale: The Masomera police have arrested 4 war veterans in
connection with stocktheft. There were 3 cows slaughtered and there are
still 4 missing.
Marondera North - Nothing to report
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Suri-Suri - 50 War Vets moved on and off Lions Vlei yesterday. Small
presence on Chigwell.
Chakari - Plenty of movement, but generally quiet. Blackmorvale is
still occupied by roughly 300 invaders.
Kadoma - Another truckload of people was brought on to Alabama Farm, but
generally quiet.
Battlefields/Selous - All quiet.
Norton - Farmers on Tilford Road were today holding a meeting with their
occupants.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Banket - Pambili Farm was peacefully invaded yesterday.
Tengwe - Chitonga Farm was invaded yesterday and the farmer and
labourers forced to dance. A clash has occurred between war vets and
ZANU PF with one side not recognising the sitting MP. Some ZANU PF
members have supported the war vets and others have not.
Karoi - A few re-invasions over the weekend. Youths seems to be holding
lots of small meetings. A meeting on Manyamba Farm was attended by 21
farmers and 1000 labourers.
MATABELELAND
Not much to report. Threats of three invasions to occur today. One
report from Beit Bridge where the foreman was knocked around by war
vets. Political rallies over the weekend generally peaceful.
MANICALAND
Quiet
MIDLANDS
Shurugwi - Movement on Terrain Farm which consists of only 200 acres.
Unfriendly and threatening of assaults if the farm is not handed over.
Five farmers from this area spending nights in town. Regional Office
trying to arrange with Provincial War Vets for farmers to return.
Mvuma - 8 people dropped on Beckets Farm to start pegging. Approx 110
people moved on to Chivadza section of Central Estates near Maharnara.
Chivhu - Weekend quiet. Small amount of pegging on Tangenhamo and
Rietspruit farms.
Hunters Road -On Saturday 4 farmers forced, under threats of heavy
invasions, to transport workers to rally at Torwood. Farmers forced to
listen to meeting for 2 - 3 hours but were protected and one asked to
make a speech. They were informed that any farms not invaded by Sunday
21 would not be invaded in the future. Herd boy summoned to a local
school and told that those who did not attend the meeting on Torwood
would have to attend meeting to be held at Game Park Farm on Thursday
25th.
Farmers on Bon Accord Farm told to remove his cattle.
Mberengwa - Huge increase in snaring - about 20 animals. 2 bulls with
combined worth of $100 000, have been snared.
Gweru - There were approximately 8 new invasions over the weekend. Some
commercial farmers visited a property with the intention of purchasing.
The resident invaders were unhappy as they claimed the property was
theirs. The invaders also told the owner that they were to search for
an arms cache. They allowed the owner to retain only four weapons as he
is a professional hunter, with the balance to be taken to town.
OTHER
There will be a further Stress Management Seminar - due to demand - on
Friday 9th June at 9am, Agriculture House, Marlborough. Please book
early.
Those wishing to make donations to the Widows Fund can forward cheques
made payable to the Commercial Farmers' Union for onward distribution.
Donations for farm workers should be made to the National Employment
Council and further information can be obtained from the ALB,
Agriculture House, Marlborough - Mrs S Wooler.
The CFU has a database of offers of help for displaced farmers both
local and international. This includes offers of accommodation, families
overseas willing to give refuge to farmers' children, etc.
For further information on any of the above please contact
Jan Wentworth - janwe@cfu.co.zw or
Nicky Petersen - nickyp@cfu.co.zw
Phone 309800
P O Box WGT 390, Westgate, Harare.