CFU Vice-President Cloete and Deputy Director Amyot saw Minister
John Nkomo this morning and asked why farms are still being burnt when
it was agreed to de-escalate things. He said that he didn't know
and called on Hunzvi to reply. CFU and Hunzvi have released a joint
statement asking the war veterans to stop aggression, work stoppages
etc. Hunzvi said that some farmers are insighting aggression. All
farmers are please to restrain themselves while a settlement is being
negotiated.
The CFU negotiating team is to meet with war
vet leaders tomorrow (Wed 26 April) at 5:00 p.m.
The Government team has left for the UK and will meet with the British
delegation and donors.
A press report was released by the
Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Honourable Joyce Mujuru, on
the eve of the opening of the tobacco floors. The important point for
winter producers is as follows:
"In conclusion, allow me
to take this opportunity to allow farmers to continue their cropping
programmes in particular the growing of winter crops such as wheat and
barley, which are normally planted at this time of the year.
Zimbabwe consumes about 450 000 tonnes of wheat each year, and in the
last two years, farmers have been producing on average 320 000 tonnes
necessitating imports of just over 100 000 tonnes of wheat which is used
for gristing purposes. In light of the ongoing consultations
between Government, War Veterans Association and the Commercial Farmers
Union, a lasting solution to the land issue is being worked out.
There should now be a peaceful co-existence on the farms so as to enable
farming operations to continue. If winter wheat cropping is
disrupted, there could be repercussions on the availability of wheat
flour and bread from October onwards."
Criminal activity
is increasing and is riding on the back of the farm invasions. It
involves store break-ins, poaching, and petty theft.
REGIONAL
REPORTS
Mashonaland Central Generally
quiet. Invaders have now moved off Forrester Estates, and have
stolen two vehicles from the Estate, so are now very mobile. They
have visited two farms and are expected to visit another three in the
area.
Mashonaland East Macheke/Virginia - An
aeroplane flying over the area has reported that all looks fairly
quiet. On Arizona (Dave Stevens), there are no invaders or
labourers left on the property.
Bromley/Ruwa - Chinika
Farm (Rob Brown): farm operations are back to normal. Lonely
Park (P Retzlaff) - the manager is back onfarm and milking is
underway. One or two cattle have been slaughtered by the invaders,
who continue to eat the farm produce and drink the milk.
Atlanta, Devonia - work is returning to normal due to a police
presence. Five head of cattle were slaughtered on Atlanta and two
farm vehicles were used to distribute the meat for the celebrations to
war veterans around the area.
Wedza - Four new
farms have been invaded and pegged. There is continued
intimidation on the farm labourers in the compounds at night.
South Down (Mark Saunders) - the labour was assaulted last night.
On Chipesa (Iain Kay) 28 head of cattle were slaughtered this morning.
The meat was found in the invaders' huts, and when confronted by the
police, the invaders threatened to set alight the police vehicles.
Mashonaland South West Chevy Chase Farm has been invaded by
about 80 people chanting anti-MDC slogans. The labour have been
intimidated into doing the same, with the war veterans visiting the
surrounding farms on a so-called re-orientation programme.
Mashonaland North West Mhangura - J Brown, D
Nicolle and N Hoy have all been threatened if they begin preparations
for the winter wheat crop.
Karoi - On Matthew Walsh's Fiddlers
Green, invaders confiscated weapons from the gun bearers. There was a
slight altercation and Walsh was told to leave the property. Later when
Walsh and his mananger went to hand in the weapons at the police
station, there were no police present as they were attending a scene
between MDC and Zanu PF. The invaders then made them go to the Zanu (PF)
office, where they were detained and intimidated. They left the weapons
there. Wingate Farm - the mechanic was ambushed, made to walk on fire
and severely assaulted. Rocklands Farm (Gavin Roper) - Farmer is
in Harare. The manager and assistant manager have been chased off the
farm.
There has been massive intimidation in the
townships of Karoi and Kariba.
Chinhoyi - there has
been an escalation of threats on farmers and work stoppages on farmers
preparing for a winter crop. There were ten new invasions in Chinhoyi
today, with 5 - 10 people on each farm.
Manicaland
There have been three new invasions in the area, otherwise quiet.
Matabeleland There have been two new invasions in
Inyati. There was a confrontation involving 20 war veterans (a
group of resident and a group of foreign veterans). The foreign
veteran leader was beaten up and the incident reported to the Inyati
Police who did not react. At 8 pm last night there was a report
in the Shangani Greystone area of an abduction from Penticon Farm but
the situation has been defused. There are a lot more invaders in the
Matopos area. Area chairmen have been advised to inform
everyone not to go back to the farms.
Masvingo
Generally quiet but new invasions still occurring. The invaders
are making demands.
Midlands Very quiet.
Naude Burger of Eduan Estates have invaders in his home but apparently
the domestics chased them away. JJ Burger has received a death
threat. 45 farmers attended a meeting today, at which it was decided to
maintain the status quo at orange alert. MBEKI IN SECRET DEAL
WITH MUGABE
Johannesburg, April 22 - The Sunday Times reported
that Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe had made behind the scene
concessions to South African president Thabo Mbeki to end the illegal
occupation of white-owned farms and to hold free and fair
elections.
South African opposition parties reacted with
outrage on Saturday after it was reported that Mozambican president
Joaquim Chissano, Bamibian president Sam Nujoyma and Mbeki came out in
support to Mugabe at a press conference at Victoria Falls summit
referring to him as a "champion of the rule of law." According
to the Sunday Times, the statements were aimed at publicly committing
Mugabe to sticking to the agreement. Mbeki lobbied leaders of the US,
Europe, Britain and southern Africa to back a dramatic rescue plan for
the strife torn country, which he presented to Mugabe at the summit on
Friday. In a private meting with Mbeki, Mugabe agreed to order war
veterans to end their occupation of farms, hold free and fair elections
and tone down his inflammatory rhetoric. In return, Britain has
agreed to fund Mugabe's land reform programme, hundreds of millions of
rands in loan finance for Zimbabwe through the International Monetary
Fund are to be unlocked and South Africa will lobby international
finance organisations and local businesses on its neighbours's behalf.
The deal followed a week of intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy in
which Mbeki spoke by telephone to US president Bill Clinton, British
prime minister Tony Blair and European Union leader Romano Prodi to get
their undertaking to support land reform in Zimbabwe. The
evacuation of the 10000 illegal squatters on farms in Zimbabwe is
expected to begin this week. A delegation of Zimbabwean ministers will
fly to London this week to finalise details of the deal, which will see
funds pledged by Britain and others in 1988 released to the
country. Friday's deal followed a blooky week in which two farmers and
two opposition supporters were killed. (Sapa-Sunday Times)
ACCOMMODATION and OTHER
We have a small Safari Lodge - Biri
River Safaris - and would like to make the offer to farmers for free
self catering accommodation if they would like some time away -no
phones, no radios! I can be contacted at the address below.
Heidi Campbell Biri River Safari Lodge Mike Campbell
(Pvt) Ltd P O Box 351, Chegutu, Zimbabwe campbell@biri.icon.co.zw - - -
Mr Mark van Rensburg of Kenmark Builders,
Bluff Hill and Rupurara Farm, Juliasdale, has very kindly offered 1 400
square metres of ware house space at Bluff Hill Park. The warehouse is
vacant at the moment and Mr van Rensburg has very kindly offered this
facility to farmers who have had to vacate their farms and who may wish
to store personal effects, valuables, equipment, vehicles, etc. There
are mens and ladies toilet facilities as well as some showers. Contact
details are:
Mr Mark van Rensburg: 305189 (Direct office line)
or 740976 (Home and answering machine) - - -
We have had the offer of warehouse storage facilities (very
large with no charge) for distressed farmers who wish to store prized
possessions safely, even large items such as cars. Mr Jim Bass, Bass
Transport, has made this offer. Contact David Bass on 011-600893, or
Lisa Bass on 614023/24 (O).
- - -
Dr
Marett, GP, is offering her services to farmers staying in Harare who do
not have a doctor in the city.
10 van Pragh Avenue (cnr
Blakiston Road) Milton Park Harare Tel: 720769