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.

On Rivergardens Farm, Norton, Mrs Nyandoro, an A2 settler, stole mealie meal in the owner's absence. Several tonnes were stolen with some being issued to workers and no record kept. Her husband brought in GMB and samples were taken in of all the maize stock. She has also stolen milk from the on farm production.

There is little change regarding production in Kadoma/Battlefields, with the DA not allowing farmers to grow food for the nation, unless they make deals with the settlers, which normally involve large amounts of extortion money.

Support Unit moved in to Etna Mine/Farm, Chegutu, which is understood to be either state owned or owned by a black farmer, to clear out settlers. The settlers were moved on to the neighbouring farm, Maratonga, which is white owned.

In Masvingo East and Central, reports received from the ground indicate settlers are moving, told to move or have been moved by Government officials off selected properties detailed below, including Rathmore Farm belonging to Mr. Manangagwa, and Mushaid Farm and Cleveland Farm belonging to General Zvinavashe.

Horseshoe -
The labourers on Rushpeak Farm were evicted on 30.05.02 and the owner is not allowed to remove any of his personal effects.
The owner of Nyamfuta Farm received a letter, purportedly from the DA, stating he was not allowed to remove his personal effects.
The owner of Nyamsewe Farm has been told to leave all his personal belongings on the farm.

Norton -
On Rivergardens Farm Mrs Nyandoro, an A2 settler, stole mealie meal in the owner's absence. Several tonnes were stolen with some being issued to workers and no record kept. Her husband brought in GMB and samples were taken in of all the maize stock. She has also stolen milk from the on farm production.

Selous -
On two properties A2 settlers commandeered the owners' pipes and pumps to plant a wheat crop.

Chegutu -
Support Unit moved in to Etna Mine/Farm, which is understood to be either state owned or owned by a black farmer, to clear out settlers.
The settlers were moved on to the neighbouring farm, Maratonga, which is white owned.

Chakari -
There is still no way forward on Chevy Chase Farm, which is unlisted, and the farmer is still not allowed to plant wheat despite approaches to the DA, Lands Committee and Mr Chikawore.
On Dewares Farm, the President's Office continues to use the owner's movable assets illegally depriving the owner of income.
No farmers are allowed to plant wheat in this association.

Kadoma Battlefields -
There is little change regarding production in this area with the DA not allowing farmers to grow food for the nation, unless they make deals with the settlers, which normally involve large amounts of extortion money.

General -
Section 8's are received in large numbers in the Chegutu district at present.
Many of the recipients have single owned farms.
There are no letters of comfort being signed allowing farmers with Section 8 Orders to continue with farming operations.
There is no clarification regarding whether Government will allow farmers to plant seedbeds on 01.06.02.

Masvingo East and Central -
at Chidza Farm 29 pedigree heifers were removed from the paddock, later found on a neighbouring farm and returned.
Reports received from the ground indicate settlers are moving, told to move or have been moved by Government officials off the selected properties as indicated below: -

Limmington Farm belonging to Mr. Poyto
Mukwari Farm belonging to Mr. Ganyani
Zion Church Farms
Rathmore Farm belonging to Mr. Manangagwa
Mushaid Farm and Cleveland Farm belonging to General Zvinavashe
Penhurst Farm belonging to the late Mr. Mokombi

Chiredzi -
The veld is taking a real pounding from the already existing settlers and many new settlers moving on.
Trees are cut down and regular veldfires occurring.
Poaching and snaring is now so rampant that the local butchers in town have lost sales due to the availability of meat on the streets.

Save Conservancy -
at Mukwazi Ranch Agritex officials told the owner they would be moving into the Safari Camp.
There is an increase in settlers over the last few days

On Kayansee a Section 8 dated Jan 2002 was finally delivered by ZRP Gwanda. This is a photocopied document with no official stamp. A lawyer is of the opinion it is not a valid legal document for this reason.
Other Section 8s served in the district are on the same format.
Found snared in past couple of days are two eland, one kudu, one warthog and three cattle.
This was investigated by A/Insp Ngulube, ZRP Beitbridge, who is also a "settler" on at least one property in the vicinity.
Joco/ Kleinbegin reports both diesel and ZESA powered water pumps were commandeered by settlers and used to supply their water needs from the property owner's boreholes without his authority.
There has been a further influx of cattle from the communal area where there is active FMD. About 300 head have been moved, presumably without permits, in the past 10 days. This makes the total number of illegal cattle between 700 - 1000 head on these two properties. About 200 of these are in the conservancy area and are still regularly moved to and fro between communal area and conservancy.
Several fires burnt large areas of grazing over the past few days.
Cutting of trees, building, burning lands, snaring and slaughter/theft of cattle continues unabated.
At Bothasrus about 300 cattle arrived that belong to Beitbridge MP and Deputy Minister of Local Govt., Kembo Mohadi.
They came with two separate veterinary movement permits. One for 81 head from the Beitbridge quarantine station and the balance from Penemene. Permits were issued by one Ncube, and authorised by Dr Ndlovu, the DVO. Both places are in close proximity to recent or perhaps even present FMD.
Mohadi had visited the owner of the property about two weeks ago to tell him to move his cattle out of the area into which these invading cattle have been introduced.
At La Pache, there was a fire originating in the new squatter lands.
A baboon was found caught in a snare.
In general, there have been fires on several properties.
Cutting, burning, building, snaring, wire theft and fence destruction and pipeline vandalism is ongoing.
Grazing is disappearing fast with the excessive numbers of squatter cattle

Gutu / Chatsworth -
the Blyth Farm owner moved some of his tobacco equipment into his yard. The settlers became aggressive and claimed this was prohibited as all farm equipment now belonged to them. The owner notified the police with little response.
On Rossal Farm, Muirlands Farm Nelville Farm Middeldeel Farm, the slaughter and theft of both beef and dairy cattle is on the increase, with crimes even occurring in broad daylight.

Kwekwe -
Glen Arroch has been sold.
On Grasslands, 25 irrigation pipes were stolen while on Caberfeigh property was stolen from the guesthouse and main homestead. Police were notified.
Eduan Estates reports the office was broken into and stationery stolen but no money found by thieves, whilst Dekel reports irrigation pipes, chemicals and an electric 20 hp borehole motor were stolen.
On Delvillewood Estates, the Chairman of the Land Committee was grazing his cattle on the barley lands and a woodcutter was heard at 1.35 a.m. cutting down trees.
The owner of Modena Farm has compiled and handed in a letter to the D.A. objecting to his farm being taken over.
On this farm, a poacher, armed with knives etc. was caught and taken to the police.

FMD = foot-and-mouth disease (aka hoof-and-mouth disease)

GMB = Grain Marketing Board. All maize must be sold to it and bought from it.

The reports are getting shorter, but more frequent.

It looks like Mugabe is putting his best foot forward, probably in anticipation of the G8 summit.

To: *AfricaWatch; Cincinatus' Wife; JanL; blam; Sarcasm;Travis McGee; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel ...

I'll send this report in a mass email a little later this AM... until then, here's the banner:

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