Posted on 08/03/2002 3:54:02 AM PDT by Clive
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
In the Midlands, veld fires are occurring with increasing frequency causing serious damage to grazing resources and, in some instances, property, mostly caused through carelessness on the part of settlers while clearing fields. Worst case - destruction of about one and a half million dollars worth of hay bales in a barn.
Masvingo East and Central – the Bon Air Farm owner reports a large Kudu Bull with massive horns was chased by packs of dogs and poachers on 31.07.02 until it finally broke its leg and fell. The dogs proceeded to kill it. The owner confiscated the meat from the poachers.
Chimanimani - On Charleswood Estate, cattle were put into the minimal grazing area left to the farmer. Not long after, they were moved out by settlers.
Doma - Settlers tried to burn down the Zesa electricity poles to steal the cable. Police given the motorcar registration number.
Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale - At Woodleigh Farm a heifer valued at ZW$80,000.00 was slaughtered in the paddock. All the meat was ferried away leaving behind only a head.
Raffingora - Pressure is experienced from a new labour union calling themselves Zimbabwe Agricultural Labour Consultants based in Banket.
REGIONAL NEWS
MANICALAND
Note: In my communique of the 26th July, I singled out Tanganda Tea, which was wrong, as there was a large number of Tea Producers involved in the recent wage negotiation. They fall under Agro- Based Industry and not Agro-Industry. The gentleman taken down to help with he negotiations was with H-GAPWUZ and not GAPWUZ. I would like to apologise for any damage I may have caused between Tanganda Tea and its farming neighbours. - Judy Wilson, REO Mutare
Chipinge -
A farmer was arrested on 28.07.02, for allegedly burning three DDF tractors. He was nowhere near the area but was reported to “have been seen” in the area.
Another forester from Chimanimani area is also being held for the same incident. The two men went to court 01.08.02.
The labour is still in a state of unrest. Some workers are not happy; as they are not being paid for the days they were on strike. Farmers have brought their labour committees into Mutare to have meetings with Ministry of Labour to try and solve the problem.
Chimanimani -
On Charleswood Estate, cattle were put into the minimal grazing area left to the farmer. Not long after, they were moved out by settlers.
Nyazura -
Theft on the increase, suspected to be the workers. Settlers are quiet and just sitting around.
Mutare -
Agritex are buying irrigation equipment from a farmer who is selling up. Plenty of brick making ongoing.
Odzi -
stumping still on going. Settlers are still going around looking for jobs.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
No report received.
MASHONALAND EAST
Harare South -
Eight Section 8 Orders received.
One farm manager attempted to report to Police the theft of MCB's but this was refused.
Three tractors were towed away from one farm. A farmer reported his labour on strike.
Pegging occurred on an unlisted farm.
On one farm a meeting was held with the labour and labour from surrounding farms, where they were told they or the farmer would not be moved off the farm and no assets are to leave the farm.
Another farmer was told to be off the farm by 22.09.02 and 33 people were moved on to the farm and told to erect permanent structures and no assets are to be removed.
Theft of fencing reported.
One farmer accused of hoarding maize; as had a small amount for his labour the ZRP were satisfied this was not hoarding.
Another farmer's labour refused to load tobacco, demanding the remainder of their retrenchment packages.
Macheke/Virginia -
General theft, report of a house break-in, one cow slaughtered and 15 cattle missing. General hassles from labour demanding retrenchment packages.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Makonde:
Doma -
Some settlers trying to move on to Nellivale Farm. One strike reported at Nirvana Farm.
Settlers tried to burn down the Zesa electricity poles to steal the cable. Police given the motorcar registration number.
Section 7's and Section 8's being served.
The DelaRosa Farm owner was locked out of his house.
Umboe/Chinhoyi -
Massive burning of grazing on 29.07.2002, with five fires going at once.
Umboe reported receiving Section 7's but very few so far.
A farmer was made to move his cattle for the third time.
Hurungwe:
Kariba -
Many people from Chinhoyi have gone to Chirundu to see if they can plant early maize.
Karoi -
Agritex is going around asking questions about the wheat crop. No bad news at present.
Rocklands received a Section 7 on 30.07.02.
Tengwe -
Some bush fires.
Reuben Maramahoko M.P. is encouraging some farmers to plant crops.
Ayrshire:
Some extortion reported from Mvurachena.
A robbery occurred at Erewhom on 24.07.2002, where a VCR and some alcohol was stolen.
Much of the veld burnt out.
Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale:
At Woodleigh Farm, a heifer valued at ZW$80,000.00 was slaughtered in the paddock. All the meat was ferried away leaving behind only a head. No suspect was picked up and the case was reported to Banket Police for investigation.
At Bessville Grange Farm a man was arrested for theft of 50 kg of soyabeans valued at ZW$ 5,000.00 from the land. The soyabeans were recovered and the accused handed over to Banket Police for charges. Sundown Farm reports theft of 2 inch x 9m irrigation pipes valued at ZW$30,000.00 from the seedbeds. No suspect picked up as yet.
Vehicle theft occurred at Mariondale Farm of an Isuzu: engine number 765649 KB280, Reg No. 532-017D, blue in Colour.
At Ayshire Downs, there was illegal netting of 20 kg of fish. The accused was handed over to the police. Riverhead Farm reports theft of 2 MCB's valued at ZW$800,000 from ZESA switchbox and one electric motor (value not given). No suspect picked up as yet.
Between Rivers Farm reports theft of 2 knapsacks, 2 watering cans, 1/2 x 25 litres tamarone, 1/2 x 5 litres copper, 25 x 500 grams chemicals and wheat theft 2 x 50 kgs valued at ZW$2,000.00 from the sheds. 40 kg of wheat was recovered and the accused handed over to the police.
Burnhills Farm also reports theft of 28 sprinklers (value not supplied). Accused handed over to the police.
At Ashley Farm, cattle were driven out from the paddock to Chitombowizi area. All the cattle valued at ZW$100,000.00. Accused was arrested and cattle recovered in Chitombowizi area and driven back to the farm.
At Clydesdale Farm, a person was netting and in the possession of 15 kg of fish using a 1 x 12m net and 1 x 15m net. Accused handed over to the police. Stockfield Farm had a house break-in. Stolen was a Sharp radio, a 6310 Nokia cellphone, portable phone, TV decoder and five CD's valued at ZW$740 000-00. No suspect picked up as yet.
Shipton Flowers reports theft of a water tap valued at ZW$35,000.00 from the pipeline at the barns. No suspect picked up as yet.
At Ilanga Farm a 6-month-old calf was slaughtered in the paddock and only a head and skin were left behind, and the rest of the meat was ferried away. On Sholliver Farm, accused were arrested for poaching and in possession of a warthog and a spear. Usham Farm had a house break-in. Items stolen not disclosed as yet.
Kasanzi Farm reports theft of a 12-volt battery from an energizer.
Zanzandare Farm had a theft of 5,5 hp electric motor (value not supplied) from the pump house at the dam, serial No. AA00090. No suspect picked up as yet. Shirleigh Farm reports theft of a submersible pump valued at ZW$500,000.00 from the borehole. No suspect picked up as yet.
Wynhill Farm suffered theft of 90 x hydron screws valued at ZW$180,000.00 from the land. No suspect as yet.
At Monga Farm an accused was arrested for arson at the beerhall in the compound.
Myeti Farm had 200 m of electric cable (valued not supplied) stolen from the pivot at the field. No suspect as yet.
At Riverside Farm, the settlers called yet another meeting on 30.07.02. A total of twenty settlers attended (out of forty). They were adamant to make it political, by insisting on the Pamberi's before the meeting. Farm labour is very wary and hesitant to participate - but did. Points from the "meeting" are
a) They are to do all year round cropping (instructed by Government). This will begin in April 2003, after the rains. Their cropping programme will include horticulture, to be funded by donor organisations and/ or Government. For this they will need the use of the farmer’s irrigation pumps/ pipes: for which they will pay for the ZESA, theft, repairs etc with the money from the donors. When the cost per day in ZESA was mentioned to them, they were not perturbed at all as they were 100% certain the government would meet these bills.
b) The Land Preparation rate the Farmer quoted (same as the Gvt. DDF rate) per hectare, was far too much. The settlers felt the farmer is making a huge profit. They further went on to say that they think it would be better if they supplied the diesel, and Farmer supplied the equipment and labour for free! Having tried to explain there is no possible way this could be accommodated financially, it would pay the Farmer to shut down totally, they again were not concerned at this. Nor were they concerned about the 100 farm workers families' jobs that would be lost.
c) The white man has lots of money. This comment arose a number of times, to the extent that one could not even try to explain to them differently! This farm does not have a Section 8, but has been unable to utilise any of the fields, even for grazing cattle!
Raffingora –
at Farm 1 severe trouble continues. The owner paid off his labour with full packages, who now want more.
Settler Chimere is trying to evict owner from the homestead and told the labour they will be working for him from October 2002.
On and off strikes continue.
Wheat has been planted here.
At Farm 2 strikes and negotiations continue. Settlers threaten to take out the pumps for the wheat irrigation if retrenchment packages are not paid. The owner has no cash to pay it anyway. Another strike occurred on Farm 3, with labour demanding packages. This was sorted out by Zanu PF Matafari.
At Farm 4, Kangachepe is still on farm most days travelling from Mafuta farm. He is still battling to find enough settlers to take plots and encouraging labour to force the owner to pay retrenchment packages. Labour went on strike after they were paid. The owner is still off farm. There was a break in to the main homestead on the evening of 28.07.02 with a VCR, clothing and cell phone stolen. Investigations continue. Police were notified.
Farm 5 has pressure from one settler to vacate the manager’s house. Other A2 settlers are threatening to switch off pre-irrigation.
The Farm 6 owner went to Ministry of Lands and Agritex confirming no Section 8 to date. "War vet" Kangachepe threatens to come back but has not arrived. It has been decided no deals to be made until Section 8 arrives. The owner has found out the map of settlers boundaries has changed whereby Mr. Mutasa (campaign manager for Chombo) was allocated the Misiyesi homestead and two plots of 100 ha and the D.A. Shumba Chegutu, allocated the main homestead and two plots of 100 ha.
At Farm 7 there are major problems with labour demanding retrenchment packages in full and strikes on and off. Lorries for bales are not being loaded. There is major pressure from A2 settler, Mr. Chunga, to vacate the house, disrupting the labour and threatening the owner. Visits by Ministry of Labour Chinhoyi have been no help at all. NEC Denver Chinhoyi is unable to attend and ALB Harare not very helpful.
The Farm 8 owner returns from absence on 01.08.02. The Lt.Col. settler who has planted wheat disrupting labour on the next door farm. A report of 29.07.02 states the Lt. Col. obtained keys to the main homestead and stole one of the children’s mountain bikes. Police notified. Borehole has stopped working – collecting water from Katawa in bowsers. The Lt Col. Is adamant the owner must repair the borehole when he returns.
The Farm 9 owner and his wife came back on the farm intermittently after the D.A. had removed the youth from the workshop yard. This must be the first time for three months.
Farm 10 reported theft from the main homestead. The owner is off the farm but in the District.
At Farm 11, the black manager reports he was ordered out of the main house back into the manager’s house by settler Chirama. The main house was broken into – carpets etc. stolen, but no entry into the two locked bedrooms. Boreholes have stopped working – labour and settlers getting water from the dam and river.
Various other farmers are threatened with eviction from houses.
Settlers are lighting veld fires throughout the district.
Farmers are all trying to continue despite the increasing labour unrest. Pressure is experienced from a new labour union calling themselves Zimbabwe Agricultural Labour Consultants based in Banket. Farmers are visited by GAPWUZ checking on seasonal workers – agricultural holidays paid, grades of workers and back pay where necessary with a 33% commission on any dues for non-union members.
General -
There are more and more military officers trying to intimidate farmers. One Col. said he was working on behalf of the Commissioner of Prisons!
HI-JACK OF LORRY
At 02h00 31 July 2002 a 7 tonne Volvo FL6, White, 599860W belonging to Northern Growers, Box 252, Karoi was hi-jacked full of Flue Cured tobacco. Growers number 1032 is on the propac and the paper. 84 bales are involved. The hi-jacking happened at Banket and the driver arrived at Darwendale Police Station. The truck, which has no trailer, then proceeded to the main Harare - Chirundu Road. If anyone sees this truck, please contact Sean Forster 064-7800. (fozzie@mango.zw) or Paul Hopcroft 066-3196 /011860000 or David Rockingham-Gill 067-22410 / 091262051 or e- mail mashwestn@cfu.co.zw
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Report to follow on Monday.
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central –
the Bon Air Farm owner reports a large Kudu Bull with massive horns was chased by packs of dogs and poachers on 31.07.02 until it finally broke its leg and fell. The dogs proceeded to kill it. The owner confiscated the meat from the poachers. He also continues to fight fires on his property started by settlers in this area.
Chiredzi –
the wet weather has dampened the surge of veld fires.
Poaching and snaring continue and plenty of busy settlers reported moving around on several properties.
Mwenezi -
More of the same happening in this area, cutting of trees continues, snaring and poaching is ongoing.
Save Conservancy -
Poaching and snaring continue in this area.
Gutu / Chatsworth -
Nothing to report from this area.
MIDLANDS
Summary for month:
Theft, stock theft and poaching are so common that no one bothers to tell the office about them. Section 8's and 7's are being served sporadically but not always reported. This is due to the fact that farmers are dealing directly with Land Committees and, in some cases, getting Sec 8s lifted in return for agreeing to subdivision etc. So far 48 known section 8s have been served affecting 85 title deeds.
Veld fires are occurring with increasing frequency causing serious damage to grazing resources and, in some instances, property. Mostly caused through carelessness on the part of settlers while clearing fields. Worst case - destruction of about one and a half million dollars worth of hay bales in a barn. Inspection of maize stocks by GMB officials has started again.
MATABELELAND
No report received.
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