Posted on 05/07/2002 3:54:18 AM PDT by Clive
This report does not purport to cover all the incidents that are taking place in the commercial farming areas. Communication problems and the fear of reprisals prevent farmers from reporting all that happens. Farmers names, and in some cases farm names, are omitted to minimise the risk of reprisals.
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
Norton - On River Gardens the owner is currently unable to get back to his farm due to roadblocks being put up. The farm is not listed.
Masvingo East and Central - Bon Domi reports on 30.03.02, the owner received death threats from settlers.
REGIONAL NEWS
MANICALAND
No report received.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
Horseshoe - nothing to report.
No other reports received.
MASHONALAND EAST
01.05.02
Beatrice -
The owner of one farm returned home to find a "war vet's" son sleeping on his veranda and drinking coffee in the dining room. This same person went to another farm where he told the owner he was going to move into the Granny flat.
Labour on other farms are demanding exorbitant severance packages.
Some farm owners have been not been allowed to take large household furniture when they have been forced to vacate and no one is allowed to move cattle.
Macheke/Virginia -
Various farms still have equipment removed by settlers and taken to the local security base. The settlers have wired shut some farm owner's gates.
Marondera North -
Various farmers received Section 8 orders.
Marondera South -
More farmers were forced to hand over keys and vacate their properties.
The owner of a UD 7 tonne lorry had the lorry illegally removed by settlers from premises in Marondera.
Wedza -
Various farmers were told they have got to learn to co-exist with the settlers.
03.05.02
Beatrice -
NEC came to one farm to negotiate packages for labour. It was resolved the labour would be paid one month's notice and $5000.00 relocation money. The balance outstanding would be paid when government pays the owner for their farm.
Farmers still being evicted and Section 8's issued. Stock theft is ongoing, two dogs were poisoned and a house broken into.
Macheke/Virginia -
Ongoing work stoppages.
Farmers still have equipment removed without their permission.
Settlers are demanding inventories of equipment are undertaken on some farms.
Section 8's are issued and stock theft is ongoing.
There are some reports of lost cattle found but some still missing.
Marondera South -
Farmers that have not left their farms are continually harassed and told to hand over their keys and vacate.
Inventories of farm equipment are carried out by settlers.
Wedza -
reports are settlers demand compensation for maize and make threats if the money is not paid.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
No report received.
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Norton -
On River Gardens the owner is currently unable to get back to his farm due to roadblocks being put up. The farm is not listed.
Selous -
Farms that have not been pegged are now being pegged.
The owner of one property was evicted but is able to continue farming at this stage.
Chegutu -
On Just Right snaring continues and cattle regularly come in with snares on them.
Hunger is beginning to take root.
Chakari -
On various farms police have come around telling farmers they are not allowed to move any of their moveable assets.
Nobody in Chakari is allowed to grow Wheat.
Kadoma -
No farmers are allowed to grow Wheat in this association.
Battlefields -
Only two farmers are allowed to grow Wheat at this stage.
One of these farmers will not be able to grow due to having no water.
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central -
Bon Domi reports on 30.03.02, the owner received death threats from settlers.
Chiredzi -
a big meeting scheduled to take place never occurred. A man with dreadlocks arrived at the venue stating it was cancelled as the owners of Wasarara, Eaglemont and Oscro had brought the DA and officials from the Lands Committee.
The Wasarara Ranch settlers were moved out of the owner's scrap heap, which they had been using to make snares. The main base camp was moved to the main access gate where the settlers have started building a huge shelter. They were previously told they were not allowed to build at all.
Support Unit came on the night of 01.05.02.
30 youths have settled in the elephant paddock and begun chopping down trees.
One kudu bull was snared 800m from the homestead. 54 snares were collected from the game paddock. Another kudu and impala were found snared here, and one baby giraffe was released from a snare.
Samba Ranch reports two eland, one porcupine and one warthog were found dead in snares.
Youths took over the owner's safari camp at Dombedeema Ranch and demanded the game guards stand down and leave the ranch. This was finally agreed.
Buffalo Range game scouts caught poachers on 01.05.02, transporting beef between Dombedeema and Crown Ranch Denarri Ranch received a Section 7.
In general there is plenty of people movement, poaching has escalated due to hunger, and tree felling and building of makeshift homes continues.
Mwenezi -
Battlefields Ranch reports the owner did a sweep in one paddock and collected 224 snares. Three dead impala and one dead kudu were found. He is still sweeping the remainder of the paddock.
Save Conservancy -
poaching continues unabated and people still enter the conservancy on its eastern boundary.
Gutu/Chatsworth -
Limbergia Ranch found two cattle killed on the railway line.
MIDLANDS
No report received.
MATABELELAND
No report received.
I expect that as the farmers are progressively evicted there will be progressively less and less to report.
The brigandage is winding down because of a lack or fresh targets.
The new threat will be that there are many gangs of violent youths who, having discharged their original purpose, will now be at loose ends.
The devil has work for idle hands.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.