Zimbabwe -- Farm Invasions And Security Report

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.

· Border Gezi's wife visited Bodele and Karima Farms, Bindura, stating she will be sending tractors and using the owners' irrigation equipment to plant wheat.

· Karoi North - the Songalala Farm owner was preparing for wheat planting, when settlers stopped him, stating they will allow him to continue if he does a 50:50 deal with them. He produced a wheat model depicting costs, which they rejected as "it was too expensive". Later on they said the deal "is off" and the owner must get off his farm with his cattle. He has done so.

· On Parklands Farm, Norton, which Mrs Rusike controls, preparation and planting of over 800 ha of wheat was prevented

· Kadoma - No farmers are allowed to grow any wheat, unless things change in the next few days.

· Battlefields - No one is able to grow any wheat, unless things change in the next few days.

· Kwekwe - On Loozane, a bull wildebeest was found slaughtered. When six men with dogs came to collect the beast, they were ambushed by security. The poachers were taken to court, where they claimed they were visiting farm labour and knew nothing about the beast. The case could not be proved.

Chipinge -
Mrs. Mhlambo chased off labour from Kenilworth and Glenree Farms on 06.05.02.
On Lushoff there is continued harassment of cattle with 67 now missing.
On the night of 04.05.02, the labour were beaten up and ZW$ 1 million worth of milking machinery stolen. The following day the dairy cattle were prevented from going out to graze.
The Police and Land Commission arrived to "sort out" the problem and the owner was asked for 20 bags of maize.

Headlands -
as reported in a special bulletin, Dr. CJ Jones was shot in the back on the evening of 03.05.02, she returned to the farm with the farm wages. She is in a stable condition in hospital.
On Sunrise Farm, the guards were told they must not guard the house or outbuildings, as the property no longer belonged to the owner.

Mvurwi -
The situation on Msonedi Estate has not changed with a work stoppage on the farm.
Pegging by A2 settlers has begun on Waddon Chase.
The owners of Hariana were evicted from the farm.
The problems concerning the picking of citrus on Mandindindi Farm have been resolved.

Bindura -
Border Gezi's wife visited Bodele and Karima Farms, stating she will be sending tractors and using the owners' irrigation equipment to plant wheat.

Horseshoe -
Negotiations are in progress concerning ownership of the citrus and labour terminations on Nyavuti Farm.
The remaining unpegged farms are being allocated 400 ha.
The owner of Nyamfuta farm has been ordered to vacate his farm by the end of the morning on 05.05.02.

Macheke/Virginia -
there is ongoing stocktheft.
Some farms had settlers removed by Support Unit and were told no new invasions would be tolerated.
One farm has ongoing problems where the labour was told to take up plots or leave. The owner phoned the Police who said they could not help.

Wedza -
there is ongoing ploughing using owners' tractors and diesel, with threats if owners do not comply they must leave.
Cattle that have been bought are stopped at roadblocks set up by the settlers and are not allowed to leave.
Ongoing theft all over the district.

Chinhoyi -
Kingspeak Farm reports 200 ha of Rhodes Grass was burnt by an A2 settler, because the settler was preparing his land and lit the grass
Over the last three months, the Magondi Farm owner has lost 18 cattle, 13 of which to poachers using snares, spears etc., and 5 were poisoned.
It transpired the stock thieves have restarted operations using chemicals mixed with salt for killing game and cattle.
This regional office suspects temic or monochrotophos but samples will be taken for analysing.
Impala, kudu and warthog were found dead in the same area.
The matter was reported to the Police on 3.05.02 who to date have not responded.
Farmers must be made aware of this problem/practice.
Death is very quick and cattle and game are usually found in close proximity of the poison site.

Karoi North -
on 14.04.02, the Songalala Farm owner was cutting tobacco stalks and preparing for wheat planting, when the settlers stopped him stating they will allow him to continue if he does a 50:50 deal with them. He produced a wheat model depicting costs, which they rejected as "it was too expensive". Last week they said the deal "is off" and the owner must get off his farm with his cattle. On 06.05.02, early morning, he had to leave.
The owner of Wajetsi Farm returned to his farm and within 40 minutes, the settlers/"war vets" broke down his gates and sat on his verandah and will not allow him to operate.

Umboe -
the Long Valley Farm owner tried to move his cattle by truck. A "war vet" appeared and extorted 27 head as "compensation" for the cattle eating his maize - a fabricated story.

Banket -
Northwood Farm was invaded last week and communal cattle were moved on to the farm.

Norton -
Along the Porta Road things continue to deteriorate.
On Crebilly the owner has not been able to return to his farm for some time and it is understood occupiers have moved into his house.
On River Gardens invaders have commandeered the owner's tractors and are ploughing, despite the farm not ever being listed. The owner is still unable to return.
On Wilbred the owner is still unable to return to his farm after it was trashed by Mrs Rusike and company. All his household goods were stolen costing approximately ZW$ 10 million.
Mrs Rusike was also involved with other crimes involving firearms, stock theft etc but was just released on bail.
On Parklands Farm, which Mrs Rusike controls, preparation and planting of over 800 ha of wheat was prevented.
On Gowrie Farm, where Terry Ford was murdered, much of his stock has been slaughtered and his son is not allowed to live on the property. Occupiers have chased off management on a number of occasions when they have tried to see to Terry Ford's affairs.
All these properties fall under Zvimba district, under Sabina Mugabe's area.
The rest of the Norton area, apart from Agritex pegging and various threats bandied about, is generally limping along with a small semblance of production taking place.

Selous -
The owner of one property is still not able to get back to his house.
On Umfuli Banks a Chartered Accountant from Harare by the name of Dzumbunu has commandeered the owner's pipes and is using the pumps and water to grow wheat, depriving the owner of his only source of income. The pipes in use equate to approximately ZW$ 20 million. The owner has no other farm and Mr Dzumbunu has no letter from the Governor although he says that Minister Chombo has given him verbal authority. He has so far planted 15 hectares.

Chegutu -
The Deputy Minister of Justice is depriving the owner of Faun Farm of his only source of income by ploughing up his lands and using his water and irrigation facilities. Faun Farm has not been acquired by Government and is a fully productive single owned farm.

Chakari -
On Tawstock there was a dairy cow slaughtered and A2 settlers told the owner they wish to move into his house. The owner has the MP for the area, Mr Ziyambi, forcibly living in his manager's cottage in the garden.
Farmers are still not allowed to grow any wheat in this area.

Kadoma -
No farmers are allowed to grow any wheat, unless things change in the next few days.

Battlefields -
No one is able to grow any wheat, unless things change in the next few days.

Mwenezi -
illegal movement of goats and cattle continue in this area.
On 27.04.02, goats were transported into this area from an area west of Beit Bridge. Police and the Veterinary Department are aware of this situation.
Kleinbegin Ranch reported a gathering of about 100 people on 04.05.02. Officials from Gwanda were present. A weapon was also seen on one of the settlers. A Giraffe came down to the waterhole to drink and was shot by the settlers, with the meat taken and shared amongst all present. More cattle and goats have come on to the property, which was reported to Chief Animal Inspector Mutandi. No reaction as yet.

Gutu / Chatsworth -
the Chomfuli Farm owner received a Section 8 Order for Lot 2 of Chomfuli.
Settlers are ploughing up owner's fields on the other property not yet listed.
Wire theft is occurring daily. No response from the Police.

General -
Maize theft and stock theft is rampant throughout the region. Inhabitants of the Chiwundura communal area are suspected in most cases of maize theft. Police are reacting.

Kwekwe -
on Forestvale there were three incidents of maize seed theft, to a total value of ZW$ 120 000. In all cases arrests were made and the perpetrators convicted. Police have been very helpful.
On Loozane, a bull wildebeest was found slaughtered. When six men with dogs came to collect the beast, they were ambushed by security. When the poachers were taken to court, they claimed that they were visiting farm labour and knew nothing about the beast and so the case could not be proved.
Agritex are on five farms in the Kwekwe District, pegging them into plots of 500 Ha or less. Agritex are recruiting for help with this exercise.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL

-Glendale Farm-

10:00 AM 07.05.02 About 60 ZANU-PF pushed down the farm gates and headed up the driveway towards the house. An unknown number of persons (believed to be local farmers) opened fire on the group with AK-47 rifles. Many were killed and wounded. An army truck loaded with troops headed towards Glendale Farm in response to the shooting. Just short of the farm gates the truck disintegrated, from what was believed to be a command-detonated mine made from ammonium nitrate. Police and troops have no suspects at this time, but farm invasions in Mashonaland Central have stopped......

Dude, I'm cheering myself up, with these fantasies of Mugabe's goons getting their comeuppance. Isn't it frustrating, to sit in front of a computer and read about good people suffering at the hands of these bastards? All the best, By.

Someone else has already posted it.

See:
Whites to rule South Africa again? Famed seer's predictions gain unprecedented attention

To which my reply is:
We decline whith thanks.
Who needs the aggravation?

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