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.

In Mwenezi, the Kleinbegin / Joco owner's son was severely assaulted on 04.07.02. A group of youths attacked the son with the intention to kill.

In Mvurwi, the Kamusha Farm owner was barricaded in by labour on 08.07.02 after a visit by ZFTU. At time of writing, he was still barricaded in.

The Doma farmers are facing major pressure from the settlers about moving their farm equipment.

Suri-Suri - On Kasama, the owner had his car keys grabbed out of the ignition through the open window. He was then dragged out of the vehicle and assaulted before the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle is a khaki Mazda 2.2 registration No. 592-570X.

Gutu/Chatsworth - at Makanya Farm P/L, approximately two weeks ago, a person known as Farai Tsingisie from the ZFTU approached the owner. He was forced to retrench workers and pay out large sums of money and a percentage to ZFTU amounting to millions of dollars. On 09.07.02 he was again approached and again forced to pay out money with a 75% return to ZFTU on contract workers. In general, it has been noted the ZFTU are actively moving around the area.

ARDA have planted the settlers' wheat for them. The DA has spoken about going down to see the farmers again.

ZFTU are very active and visiting all the farmers. The Rosalie owners went to court and boundaries laid out to the DA and the owner in the courtroom. The DA is not keeping to these boundaries.

At Canterbury, the settlers are ploughing in between the coffee damaging the crop. They also built two huts in the coffee fields.

Wolverhampton had two people visit, each with maps of their plots, which they said had been marked out for them by Agritex. One is an Army Major from Mutare and the other an employee at ZESA from Hwange. They were very pleasant and told the owner his farm had been divided into 16 plots for A2 settlers. This will leave no room for the owner to plant his crops.

DDF were ploughing two weeks ago and have not been seen since. Some of the smaller settlers have planted rape and tomatoes, while others have planted very small patches of wheat. Farmers are putting in seedbeds but not as much as they normally plant for a season.

Settlers are still ploughing. They planted 6 ha of wheat on Fairview They are selling the equipment from Fairview and all seems to going well. Settlers seem to be mostly making bricks. Settlers are dividing into factions and seem to be fighting amongst themselves.

Settlers are either stumping lands or are looking for jobs with farmers, otherwise all is quiet there. Nyazura - Settlers are quiet at the moment. Farmers are putting in seedbeds.

Farmers are putting in seedbeds, but the settlers are quiet with not too many of them around.

ZFTU are very active but appear to be listening to the farmers. Again farmers are doing seedbeds.

On 06.07.02, three labourers from Charleswood Estate were stealing settlers' maize. One was caught and severely beaten up. The settlers went into the farm village to find the other two culprits but, as they were unsuccessful, they resorted to beating up other men and women.

The settlers burnt 50 ha of land. In response to a report made, the police said that the 'war vets' could do what they liked, and issued a stern warning to the manager of the farm. The police are very reluctant to take reports of such incidents.

At Kamusha Farm, the owner was barricaded in by labour on 08.07.02 after a visit by ZFTU.

Farmers in the area are doing their best to forward information on the ongoing labour situation to the Ministry of Labour in Bindura.

A couple living in a cottage on a farm had their Datsun 1200 and a bicycle stolen.

A farmer had his security fence cut and goods to the value of ZW$ 300 000.00 stolen.

A farmer, who was not on his farm, was visited by an army major and some soldiers. The guards were told not to let anyone into the premises. The army contingent forced the guard at gunpoint to let the army into the premises and left several people there overnight. They told the farmer he must move out of his house by 15.07.02. They have taken the tractor keys and stopped labour from going to work.

The Doma farmers are facing major pressure from the settlers about moving their farm equipment. One farmer has roadblocks set up outside his house.

there was a major problem where farmers were locked into their house/ barn complex. The settlers' criminal activity included: -

Theft of everything steadily gets worse. MCB's and switchgear were stolen and three houses broken into. Sand is taken from the Angwa River by the truckload, causing destruction to the ecosystem. Some of the recent veldt fires are arson. Grazing is burnt at a worrying rate. Poaching is rife and stock theft is getting worse. There is heavy pressure on farmers to pay out severance packages.

Very few Tobacco seedbeds have been allowed to go in. Very few A2 settlers have done anything to comply with the conditions of their lease.

On Lot A of Cromdale the owner continues to be hassled by the A2 settler living in his garden. He has not been allowed to grow any Wheat and the A2 settler has used all the owners' equipment and infrastructure to plant Wheat of his own without any payment being forthcoming. The A2 settler has threatened to evict the owner on 12.07.02.

On Kasama the owner had his car keys grabbed out of the ignition through the open window. He was then dragged out of the vehicle and assaulted before the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle is a khaki Mazda 2.2 registration No. 592-570X.

Thistle Farm was abandoned by the owners, who recently returned to visit. In response, the settlers set up roadblocks then verbally abused and chased off the owners.

On Deweras Farm where Presidents' Office officials have planted Wheat illegally using the owner's equipment, the officials have now ploughed down the owners Paprika that was still being harvested.

On Chevy Chase Farm the owner reports most of a herd of 200 cattle were stolen. He still has not been allowed to put in any crops despite having done land preparation. The farm has never been listed, but when this was pointed out to the DA, it was listed a few days later. The owner has previously given up two properties to government and has negotiated with Government on his other two properties. This is the last property he and his sons and their families own.

A number of farmers are currently moving off their properties as a result of threats and the totally untenable situation where hardly a single farmer in these three associations is allowed to farm.

Lot 21a Complete report still to come in. Last week owner was severely beaten by a gang of youths, but managed to escape after biting off one of the youths fingers.

Poaching, snaring, breakage of water pipes and theft of cattle continue almost every day.

Continued harassment to owners concerning wages and pensions etc. Snaring on the increase and wire theft out of control.

on Dromore Farm late last week, the owners dip tank was emptied out allegedly by settlers occupying the property. The owner reported the incident to the Police and the DA. Both could not attend the scene immediately. The owner informed the authorities he would fill the dip tank with water, to stop the tank cracking. When the owner's son arrived on 05.07.02 to replenish the dip tank, it had been filled up with thorn branches cut and aligned so as to prevent entry. There was also a note left informing the owner that if he continued to pursue the matter he would be killed. This was immediately reported to the authorities, but they were unable to attend to the problem immediately, as they were allegedly experiencing vehicle problems. On 09.07.02, "war vets" and the CID approached the owner's wife, making enquiries as to why irrigation pipes were removed from the property and stored at a safe house. The owner has already lost ZW$ 10 million worth of irrigation equipment due to continued theft. The owner's wife was asked to report to the CID Office. It appears the matter has been temporarily resolved with the owner's wife producing the relevant legislation allowing this action.

at BJB Estates cattle were refused access to water last week. The situation was eventually defused when the owner transported the Police to the property. This week again the cattle were refused access to water. Three settlers intimidated and pushed around the Manager. Report again made to the Police, but no action taken. The property in question has not been served with a Section 8 Order and accusations are made the Farm Manager is the person responsible for the owner not selling off his cattle.

At Palm River Ranch on 09.07.02, the owner received information a delegation was to visit him over the issue of cattle to be compensated since 1940. The owner went to the Police and the DA to ask for assistance, and managed to get a police official and a representative from the DA's office. While in town a large delegation of about 30 people arrived on his property. The owner was refused permission to talk to any of them, but was verbally abused. He was accused of "avoiding the meetings set down" and told he had "started a war" by obtaining help from the Police and the DA's office. The main instigator was a man by the name of "Njana". The Police official and DA representative were reported to have gone back to their superiors and relayed the aggressive attitude of the delegation. The owner has since decided to remove his cattle, but has not conceded anything.

In general, poaching and snaring continue unabated. Many meetings are held, but confusion reigns over the status of the properties. Many fires are reported.

The Hippo Valley Settlement Holding 36 owner was beaten up in his cane field early on the morning of 09.07.02. Five people held down the owner, who was assaulted by well known "war vet" Mutemachani. The reason given was the owner was allegedly cutting cane on an A2 Settlers allocated plot. Mr. Kanda of the Provincial Land Committee was not present, but it appears he initiated this assault with a threat the previous evening stating:" if you cut and burn this cane you will find out what I am." The perpetrators took the owner away in his own vehicle intending to visit the DA's office. When the owner refused to go, they eventually took him to the Chiredzi Police Station. Although the assault was not severe, it is understood the owner will lay charges of abduction and assault against his perpetrators. A Chiredzi Police official said if these charges are laid they will investigate, but the owner will be charged under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act for interfering with the Resettlement process of the Acquiring Authority. It is not clear if the owner has signed any cautioned and warned statements. That afternoon Mr. Kanda (PLC) arrived on the property and once again threatened the owner.

There is general disapproval from the A2 Settlers concerning the cutting of cane. Many threats and insinuations have been made. Ongoing harassment continues with some cane farmers over farm equipment.

On one incident an A2 settler laid a charge against the owner he had stolen a motor off the farm. On investigations, the police were shown the motor in the farm workshop. As the A2 settler could not identify the motor, the Police took it to the Police Station. The next day, the owner enquired about his motor and was told by Police to remove it and go home. He requested a report number as he was accused of theft and wanted to make a charge, but no report number was given. He intends to bring a civil suit against the A2 settler. This same A2 settler has erected a tin hut in the middle of the owner's road. Reports were made to Police and owner has obtained a report number.

Mwenezi - the Kleinbegin / Joco owner's son was severely assaulted on 04.07.02. A group of youths attacked the son with the intention to kill. He had gone to uplift the diesel engine and other movables from a borehole the owner is unable to use due to pressure from illegally introduced communal cattle. 16 staff members were present with 2 vehicles and a tractor and a trailer. After the diesel engine had been loaded and some of the borehole pipes had been lifted the situation deteriorated rapidly. When the owner's son attempted to hitch the trailer to the tractor he was attacked by 15 youths. The staff drove off in the two vehicles. The son was held face down by all four limbs while the youths took turns at kicking him, jumping on him, beating him with axe handles and finally bashing his temple on a rock wielded by one of the youths. The repeated intention by the youths was to kill. Fortunately the opportunity to escape presented itself when one of the youths kicked one of the youths holding the son down. As a result his hand was released allowing the youth's brought within biting distance. The son bit the youth's finger, causing confusion allowing him to escape on the tractor. The youths tried to stop him by pelting the fleeing tractor with large rocks. He abandoned the tractor when his way was blocked by one of the vehicles found to have stopped near a gate guarded by another group. He escaped through an opening in a fence some distance away previously cut for use by settlers and their scotch carts. The tractor and some equipment were recovered with slashed valves. To date not all the equipment was recovered, despite attendance by Police, or arrests made.

The second house on this property has also been occupied and the Police have yet to ensure the recovery of fridges, stoves and other furniture.

It is estimated that in excess of 15 tonnes of sugar cane is lost to theft daily on Mwenezana (Triangle Ltd.). This occurs both in the fields and from the transporting trucks on their way to the railway line.

At Battlefields Ranch another Nyala was killed in a snare. Valley Ranch reports indicate large groups of communal cattle moving on to the property.

In general, snaring, poaching with dogs, cutting, burning, pipe destruction, fence theft and building ongoing. Section 8s were served last week starting 03.07.02.

the Bath Farms P/L owner once again received threats on his life and made plans to be off the property as a precautionary measure. He was also told to expect a delegation from the ZFTU demanding terminal benefits for labour. He is accused of removing a cattle bale from the property and therefore removing Government property.

At Makanya Farm P/L approximately two weeks ago, the owner was approached by a person known as Farai Tsingisie from the ZFTU. He was forced to retrench workers and pay out large sums of money and a percentage to ZFTU amounting to millions of dollars. On 09.07.02 he was again approached and again forced to pay out money with a 75% return to ZFTU on contract workers. In general, it has been noted the ZFTU are actively moving around the area.

It is reported to be reasonably quiet, however poaching and snaring are ongoing.

This report was not posted in a timely manner as it did not appear on the CFU website.

I picked it up from the CFU site's archive when the July 19 report appeared.

The July 2 report never appeared and is not in the CFU site's archive but I had picked it up from ZWNews.

ZWNews has advised me that postings to the CFU site have become erratic but that it receives paper copies of the reports by mail.

I will post the July 19 report separately

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