Zimbabwe -- Farm Invasions And Security Report - Friday 26th July 2002

Commercial Farmers' Union (Zim) ^ | July 26, 2002

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NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF

· Mwenezi - At Battlefields Ranch, the settlers have killed another giraffe.

· Macheke/Virginia - Another farmer had a total work stoppage. He and his family were locked in their house, his labour were beaten up and forced on to the road and a tractor was stolen.

· Chakari - On Tawstock, the M.P for Kadoma West, who is resident in the other homestead, sent a message threatening the owner with arrest should he remove a burnt-out transformer from the property.

· Chipinge - ZFTU have been agitating the labour into believing that coffee falls under the agro-industry wages. This was exacerbated by Tanganda Tea Company, which is an agro-industry, giving an across- board wage increase.

· Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale – It appears that several gangs are working in the Banket, Trelawney and Darwendale areas, adding to the increased general theft on farms.

REGIONAL NEWS

MANICALAND

Chipinge -

ZFTU are still very active and are causing problems on some farms. The settlers are ploughing and buying maize seed from ZFC.

Burma Valley -

DDF ploughed nearly three weeks ago, but nothing has been done since. Some settlers have grown wheat and vegetables.

Odzi -

Settlers are still going around looking for jobs from farms in the area. Settlers are stumping and preparing lands for the up-coming season of maize. Commercial farmers are still farming.

Middle Save -

Commercial farmers are still farming. ARDA are managing the new “farmers’” plots and the new “farmers” come down on weekends.

Chimanimani -

Settlers are sitting around. A tractor ploughed three plots and left. Nothing has been done about these plots since.

Rusape -

Everyone is still farming and the settlers are sitting around.

Headlands -

There is plenty of stock theft, house break-ins, theft of irrigation equipment and paprika. Some people were arrested for these incidents and appear to have come from Chitungwiza.

Chipinge -

ZFTU have been agitating the labour into believing that coffee falls under the agro-industry wages. This was exacerbated by Tanganda Tea Company, which is an agro-industry, giving an across-board wage increase. On 19.07.02 and over the weekend several farms had work stoppages and one farmer was manhandled and locked in his workshop. On 22.07.02, ALB Harare, NEC Harare and the General Secretary of GAPWUZ (who reports directly to the President of ZFTU), went down to Chipinge to address the situation and discovered the people causing the trouble were bogus ZFTU. By this time, there were seven farms on strike and ALB, NEC and GAPWUZ faced some ugly scenes, with the police having to use tear gas in one incident. ZFTU are extremely angry as these people are discrediting their union and sabotaging the economy. There is a meeting planned for 29.07.02 with the Ministry of Labour. On 25.07.02 there were four farms on strike, and on one farm people tried to burn the newly pruned tea fields and the macadamia trees. Fortunately the tea was too green to burn and there is a firebreak before the macadamia trees. The police are guarding one farm where labour is trying to wash the coffee that has been in the tanks for the last six days. The police response has been very good.

Mutare -

Still plenty of brick making going on, farmers are still farming, and all appears to be quiet.

MASHONALAND CENTRAL

No report received.

MASHONALAND EAST

Beatrice - A driver of a vehicle was apprehended for poaching; he was in possession of two firearms. One Section 7 was received in the area.

Harare South -

A follow-up of a poaching incident by guards found three people on bicycles: one was armed and warned the guards off. There was a follow up by police but they were too late.

Agritex is visiting farms issued with Section 8 Orders, gathering information on yields, facilities etc.

There is general theft in the area especially of electrical motors and MCB's. Two cattle were slaughtered.

One farmer was told to appear in court with the charge of "wilfully driving cattle into a settler's maize".

One farmer was barricaded into his house by labour over grievances about gratuities.

Macheke/Virginia -

One farmer had settlers move into his main homestead, with all locks on the doors and gates broken.

One farmer had A2 settlers telling his labour they had to be out of their houses and the farmer is not allowed to move any equipment.

Another farmer had a total work stoppage. He and his family were locked in their house, his labour were beaten up and forced on to the road and a tractor was stolen.

Another farmer not allowed to move equipment and he had the water turned off but this was later sorted out.

Eight Section 7 Notices and one Section 8 Order were received.

Three farmers were told their labour had to vacate. Other farmers experience problems with labour demanding retrenchment packages.

There is general theft and reports of cattle being slaughtered.

Some farmers have been told they have to leave within a certain time.

Marondera North -

Eleven Section 8 Orders were received.

Two Impala were poached.

A farmer was shut out of his fence for allegedly not supplying transport to a meeting.

Various farmers report problems related to S.I. 6, the statutory instrument regarding agricultural labour retrenchment.

One farmer was approached to see what land was available.

Marondera South -

A farmer reported a workshop theft of tools etc to the value of ZW$489,000.00.

Wedza –

Six Section 7 Notices and three Section 8 Orders were received.

There was a break in and theft from a workshop. One farmer had eleven of his guards abducted on the night of 19.07.02. They have since been released.

The labour on one farm, which does not have a Section 8, was told to obtain their retrenchment packages and move off by 08.08.02. If not, they would be beaten up.

One cow was snared and butchered.

MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)

Doma –

Work stoppages occurred on two farms. . The labour demanded gratuities and then to be put on contract work.

Chinhoyi –

Fairly quiet.

Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale –

It appears that several gangs are working in the Banket, Trelawney and Darwendale areas, adding to the increased general theft on farms.

Nyabira –

Building of small structures on farms is ongoing. Settlers are fighting amongst themselves for what they want.

One farmer is allowed to use only a portion of his farm.

Tengwe –

Burning of grazing ongoing.

Some farmers are not allowed to graze sections of their farms or cut firewood.

The D.A. says “if you have a Section 8, you are history”.

Kariba –

Some farms listed on 19.07.02.

Karoi –

a farmer was charged with having explosives after his licence to keep them expired. It is believed the farmer tried to have his licence revalidated without success, as the man who issues the licences was not there when he applied. The case is remanded to 15.11.2002.

MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)

Norton -

On Elston there was an armed robbery on the night of 20.07.02, whilst the owner and his family were away. The thieves broke down all interior doors and cupboards, took the safe and all electrical items, as well as a 7 tonne lorry, which has been recovered, and an Isuzu bakkie, which is still missing.

Chakari -

On Tawstock the M.P for Kadoma West, who is resident in the other homestead, sent a message threatening the owner with arrest should he remove a burnt-out transformer from the property.

MASVINGO

Masvingo East and Central -

Section 7 Notices and Section 8 Orders are being distributed.

On Bon Air Farm the owner was instructed he is not allowed to graze his cattle in the paddocks.

Over the weekend a wheelbarrow was stolen on Chidza Farm, which was then used to steal a 7 HP Lister engine on Bon Air Farm and taken back and hidden on Chidza Farm. Owners followed the tracks the following morning and Police were called in and the perpetrators were apprehended.

The Chidza Farm owner reported the brother of the infamous “Black Jesus” was arrested and jailed after he was caught stealing an engine off Lothian Farm.

At Lochinvar Ranch another 10 head of cattle were stolen from the kraal on the evening of 21.07.02. This now totals 35 cattle reported stolen within three weeks. In total 150 head have been stolen.

Chiredzi -

There is still a lot of burning of trees and stumps. No veldt fires reported for the weekend mainly due to the light rain received.

Quiet on the sugar cane farms.

Extensive poaching continues.

Since Eureka Ranch was listed with a Section 5 Order two weeks ago, a large influx of people is reported to have moved on to and continue to move on to this property.

Mwenezi -

It has been reported a few farmers have received Section 7 Notices.

Sossonye and Nyati Ranches have been run as one unit for many years and the owner has invested heavily by game fencing the properties, building dams and extensively stocking it with wildlife. The Government has subsequently delisted Sossonye Ranch. However there has been conflict between the Provincial and Local administration whenever there has been an attempt to clear settlers off the property. It is also believed the local MP has been provoking settlers to stay on the property.

There have been a number of protests and demonstrations against the delisting of this property. ZRP and Support Unit have reinforced that settlers should move off.

It now appears the “new owner” is none other than the MP for Zaka East, a Mr. Chindanya. He is reported to be accompanied by a man notorious for his suspected involvement in a number of crimes in the Province. He is Mr. Magwesi and is known in the area as a butcher, although he is from Masvingo.

A report coming in state two Giraffe and two impala were shot on 11.07.02 and the meat was then transported away.

The previous weekend a Kudu was also reported to have been shot and delivered to the local DA, Mr. Zindave.

Sangokwe Ranch reported two giraffe and one sable killed over the weekend by poachers.

One settler has been allocated a plot in the centre of the game paddock and brought 38 head of cattle from Chikombedzi Communal Land. Although he was in possession of movement permits, he was instructed to remove the cattle. The settler is now cutting the fence to allow his cattle access to water on the Bubi River.

At Battlefields Ranch the settlers have killed another giraffe.

Marcon Ranch was visited by a delegation originating from Chisumbanje Communal Land area (Chiredzi), driving a Nissan double cab vehicle. They drove up the boundary fence leaving all the gates open. Gates locked or tied down were forced open. Instructions were given to herdsman to remove cattle from the paddocks and then remove the fencing as this farm is to become a conservancy and a new game fence would be erected. They enquired of the owner where the game was and prepared themselves to go hunting that evening at 7pm. Spotlights were used for the hunting.

Moria Ranch (which had been cleared of squatters some weeks ago, had government officials driving around marking off Lot numbers with white paint. They claim to have been instructed by the Mwenezi DA.

In addition to the allocation of "Sub-division 1 of Alko Ranch" to Kembo Mohadi, MP for Beitbridge and Deputy Minister of Local Government, the other half of this property has apparently been allocated to Mr. Rusere, MP for Zaka.

Lot 64 of Lot 12 of Nuanetsi Ranch A has been allocated to one Jereri, ex-Ministry of Lands, Harare.

Lot 63 of Lot 12 of Nuanetsi Ranch A has been allocated to one Jaison Magadzire of P.O. Box M9, Chiredzi.

Lot 68 of Lot 12 of Nuanetsi Ranch A has been allocated to one Namiya.

Save Conservancy -

Snaring and poaching continue.

Gutu / Chatsworth -

Northdale Farm had one electric motor stolen and one dairy cow caught in snare, which has subsequently died. The property received a Section 5 later this week.

At Mazongororo Farm settlers kept the owner’s cattle in the kraal.

The Condor A owner was told by settlers to remove all his cattle from the property.

The Nuwejaar Farm owner received a Section 8 Order. One dairy cow was stolen on 24.07.02.

MIDLANDS

No report received.

MATABELELAND

No report received.

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