Posted on 08/10/2002 7:04:02 AM PDT by Clive
NATIONAL REPORT IN BRIEF
Norton - On Bryn Farm the owner had to move out of his homestead and is now homeless. He had three farms, two of which he offered to Government but Josiah Hungwe, the Governor for Masvingo has now taken over his last farm and home.
Mwenezi Area – at Valley Ranch, a serious situation is starting to develop on this property. It is inundated by settlers and communal cattle originating from Malapati. To worsen the situation World Vision (NGO) using a white Nissan Double Cab Registration Number 727-799K is carting settlers to the property and driving around on the property checking up on communal cattle
In the Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale areas the continuous theft is horrific and what we hear about is probably the tip of the iceberg
Norton - On Idaho, the ZANU (PF) chairlady for legal affairs and women’s rights, and ex M.P, Mavis Chidzonga, continues to create problems. She is presently trying to evict the storekeeper
Chakari - On Tawstock, M.P Ziyambi, who has been living in the owner’s guest cottage in his garden for about 6 months, is now trying to evict the 90 households that live in the farm village. It is the owners only home and farm, and most of the farm workers have known no other homes apart from on the farm.
REGIONAL NEWS
MANICALAND
No report received.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
No report received.
MASHONALAND EAST
No report received.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Doma -
at Nirvana Farm the farmer is not allowed to move his property off the farm. ZRP informed.
At Hundred Ends Farm an A2 settler would not allow the workers, (who wished to reap coffee), to work. The A2 settler locked the gate and would not allow reaping the coffee to continue.
Further to the hi-jacking of the white Volvo Fl6 truck with 84 bales on board, opinion is it was either hi-jacked for the cargo of flue-cured tobacco or for the truck belonging to Northern Hauliers No. 599-860W. It is reported the truck stopped at the Little England turnoff and was parked in the nearby lay-by. There was a female accomplice with the driver and when the vehicle was hi-jacked it was taken down the Darwendale Road and the Police picked up the driver by the Zipan turn off. The physical characteristics of the tobacco are open grained, long leaf irrigated tobacco in 84 bales marked 1032 on the paper and on the hessian. The truck would have had a range of 450 km with the fuel in it and would have done 200 km. To sell the cargo all the paper marks would have to be torn off and all the hessian changed with the individual bale tickets. Our roads are obviously patrolled at night by vehicle pirates. The anti hi-jack trust is at hijack@mweb.co.zw.
Trelawney -
an accused was handed over to Banket Police for the theft of 10 kg of tobacco from the barns.
In the Banket/Trelawney/Darwendale areas the continuous theft is horrific and what we hear about is probably the tip of the iceberg.
At Trelawney Sports Club, a handbag with I.D.'s, cash, chequebook etc. stolen from the squash court. Mtotwe Farm suffered theft of hosepipe, irrigation taps and fittings.
Gwina Farm reports stolen 78 irrigation sprinklers valued at $585 000 from the wheat field.
Elinda Farm had 27 sprinklers valued at $500 000 stolen from the seedbed site.
Firhill Farm had football boots and cassettes valued at $7760 stolen from the farm village.
Stolen from Squatodzi Farm was the TV, decoder, satellite dish, VCR plus blankets, towels and hats valued at $392 000 in a housebreak-in, as well as irrigation taps.
The Fazanzi Farm electrician was in possession of 9 MCB's.
At Dieu Donne Farm 21 MCB's were stolen valued at $230,000.
20 litres of herbicide was stolen from the chemical store at Bessville Grange Farm.
At Gretton Farm an animal was slaughtered. The Head and skin was recovered and two accused were picked up.
Another decoder was stolen from near Mazvikadei area and was found when the thief absconded 40 km away. At Mvebi an electric cable was stolen from the pivot in the field.
Zivoto Farm reports stolen hydrant taps and window handles from the main house.
At Cango Farm 10 tobacco flue pipes were stolen valued at $100,000 from the barns.
Finally, on 26.07.02 Agritex arrived to re- demarcate a farm into 100 ha 'farms'. All existing pegs are null and void and they left the owner with 350 ha gross (147 of which is arable). They returned on 29.07.02 to actually start marking and tell the owner he will not be getting the 350 ha originally stated because he has not applied for any land.
MASHONALAND WEST (SOUTH)
Norton -
On Bryn Farm the owner had to move out of his homestead and is now homeless. He had three farms, two of which he offered to Government but Josiah Hungwe, the Governor for Masvingo has now taken over his last farm and home.
The owner of Rock Farm was beaten up with sticks by settlers. On another day he was abducted and taken to ZANU (PF) headquarters in Harare and spent six hours in the custody of the settlers.
On Kilvington Farm the seedbed site has been trashed five times, and the owner is not allowed to plant anything despite it being his only farm.
On Idaho the ZANU (PF) chairlady for legal affairs and women's rights, and ex M.P, Mavis Chidzonga, continues to create problems. She is presently trying to evict the storekeeper and has also removed 3.6 kilometres of fencing wire from the fences, and is wanting to move into the owners house despite it being the owners only home and farm.
Kadoma -
On Ardconnel A2 settlers stole the gate to the electric security fence. They then set the haystack alight in the owner's garden that was being kept for the few remaining cattle. Fires were lit all around the house during the night and the fruit trees burnt. Letters were then left saying the owners would be beheaded if they did not vacate their home within the next 48 hours. Another letter said they would do "the same as Bin Laden". The farm is unlisted and is the owners' only farm. Under the circumstances they have had to move out. Police response was abysmal.
Battlefields -
On Umsweswe River Block 8A the cold room was vandalised and the stable roofs removed. The owner's father was held hostage whilst removing household effects from the home and was only released when he handed the keys to the home over to the settlers. The settlers have stolen all interior doors. Police have not assisted.
On Railway Farm 5, 300 Guinea Fowl were poisoned by the settlers, and the owners told to get off the farm by 10.08.02 August despite it being their only farm and despite them having permission from the Governor to continue their winter cereal crop.
Chakari -
On Victory Farm the owners were evicted despite it being their only home, and settler Gondo moved into their home before they even managed to get all their belongings out.
On Tawstock M.P Ziyambi, who has been living in the owner's guest cottage in his garden for about 6 months, is now trying to evict the 90 households that live in the farm village. It is the owners only home and farm, and most of the farm workers have known no other homes apart from on the farm.
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central -
Nothing to report.
Chiredzi -
Ongoing poaching and snaring.
Gutu / Chatsworth -
the Bath Farm owner returned home from town late evening on 02.08.02 and was stopped just outside his homestead by a ZFTU Official who has been demanding exceedingly high labour wages from the owner. The owner said the bank would not allow him to withdraw any more money, which the ZFTU Official refused to believe and continued to harass him by refusing to move away from the front of the vehicle. He threatened to return the following day and after a lengthy period the situation was resolved.
Mwenezi Area -
at Valley Ranch, a serious situation is starting to develop on this property. It is inundated by settlers and communal cattle originating from Malapati. To worsen the situation World Vision (NGO) using a white Nissan Double Cab Registration Number 727-799K is carting settlers to the property and driving around on the property checking up on communal cattle. It has now also been established that World Vision has also moved cattle on to the property.
At Marcon Ranch, two A2 settlers, being Mutendi Brothers from Nyika Growth point, arrived driving a 7 tonne Scania Truck loaded up with some cement. They indicated to the owner that they have been allocated plots on the property. They were also seen driving a pickup and were armed with a 303 rifle. Vehicle tracks were seen on the top section of the farm indicating that they were driving around on the lookout for game.
Battlefields Ranch reports another Impala and one dairy heifer caught in snares. Owner reports extensive poaching on the property.
Save Conservancy -
Ongoing poaching and snaring.
MIDLANDS
No report received.
MATABELELAND
No report received.
First it was Rhodesia then SA now America paying the price of silence.
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