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THE BUTCHER, THE BANKER AND THE RESETTLEMENT FAKER.
Evidence suggests that the notorious Commander Air Force and for commander fifth brigade Perence Shire has laid claim to Eirene farm in Ruzawi, south of Marondera, Mashonaland East. The farm's owner, Hamish Charters was forcibly evicted by an individual known as Daniel Matenga, an army officer, and others, in April this year.
The farm owner's son was escorted off Eirene Farm by 4 youths on Tuesday morning, 2 of whom were armed with AK 47' s. The youths told him not to return to the farm, and that the equipment still on the property could not be removed without the prior permission of the new owner, whom they named as Perence Shiri.
In a subsequent phone conversation with the farm owner, Shire denied having intentions of seizing the farm, but then stated that the owner's cattle had to be removed, as his own animals were being brought onto the farm. This farm has been heavily occupied by A1 settlers since April 2000, a violent group led by a man named BheBhe Musimbe, who have carried out marauding attacks on surrounding farms in the area.
A torture camp was established on the farm at the time of the Presidential elections. The farm's owner sustained a fractured skull and a fairly severe beating at the hands of these "settlers" in October 2001, when he attempted to work the farm after obtaining a High Court Order allowing him to do so. This Order is unenforced to the present day. The Farm is under notice of acquisition that is believed to be null and void, as no notice to appear in court has been received in the required 30-day window period Ends
COMMERCIAL Farmer, Adrian Wilkinson (50) has been evicted from his farm to make way for Metropolitan Bank MD, Enock Kamushinda, Tutor in Human Resources Dept University of Zimbabwe, Robert Chimedza, and Zimbabwe's Ambassador to the United States, Simbi Veke Mubako. The men are to share 1200 ha spread known as Remainder of Between Rivers farm. The farm has previously grown Seed Maize and Tobacco, Soya Beans and Wheat and employs 140 men and women, is under a Section 8, which has expired due to the non-issuance of a Section 7 notice within a 30-day period.
Kamushinda arrived on the farm on Good Friday in April and asked Wilkinson 'Do you know me?' Wilkinson replied negatively. Kamushinda then made a contradictory statement saying, "You are the owner of this land. I am the one going to be leasing it from Government."
It is believed that Ambassador Mubako has since sent his brother to announce his presence on the farm and his brother and a cousin Matthew also visited the farm this weekend. Chimedza has already established a presence on the farm and has planted a wheat crop.
Another settler, Frank Garikayi (Chairman of Zvimba Rural District Council) died recently and President Robert Mugabe recently attended his funeral on one part of the farm. It was on this day that the President passed through Clydesdale Farm and stopped to tour the farm with the McKenzie family. The Garikayi family are still keen to take up this portion of the farm, which is of traditional and spiritual importance to the community.
The eviction of Wilkinson began after members of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) stopped Wilkinson from removing over 5 500 pockets of Seed Maize and 88 000 kgs of Tobacco which was graded and ready to be delivered to the floors. The crops, valued at over Z$ 50 million were held back to put pressure on Wilkinson to pay retrenchment packages to staff.
According to reports from staff on 30 June, Minister of Local Government and Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo had called staff to a meeting to introduce Enock Kamushinda to the farm staff and to inform them that they were to stop the owner removing his produce and equipment and that they were to demand retrenchment. They would all be re-employed by Kamushinda once the owner had left. A witness at the meeting said that at the close of the meeting Minister Chombo handed out $ 2000 to the men and women present and Kamushinda also gave them $ 3000 each. This was said to be beer money.
Wilkinson said, "On Sunday 7th July 2002, at approximately 10:30 am, an entourage arrived in a white Land Cruiser 785 714 H. The vehicle was driven by someone who identified himself as Peter, who said he was Kamushinda driver. He was accompanied by Ronald Chakadenga and John Phiri (Chombo's employees) and Mrs Chimedza. A notorious local war veteran, Kangachepi accompanied them. They immediately asked me why I had not left on the 25th June to which I replied that I had until the 8th August according Minister Made's amendment to the Land Acquisition Act. They denied any knowledge of the Act or the significance of this date and refused to discuss it, saying it was nonsense and that I was to pack immediately and leave or there would be trouble. I declined, saying that I would not leave until my crops had been sent to market.
A guard was left behind "to ensure I did not take anything off the farm." The group, made up of Chakadenga, (representing Dr Chombo) with representatives from Kamushinda and Chimedza returned on Monday at 5 pm and informed Wilkinson that they would pay for everything, crops and implements if he left immediately. The group is said to have shouted a barrage of threats to press Wilkinson to leave. He declined and made a made a report to the Police.
Wilkinson was barricaded in his home for four days of intimidation with political singing and dancing outside his front and back doors. "Late Wednesday a Colonel Mataruka (Grey Scouts contingent) called and said that if I cooperate with a ministry official, Mrs Gift Chikeza who wanted to prepare an inventory, the youth would be moved off." Said Wilkinson.
Chikeza completed the evaluation with the youth in tow and then pressured Wilkinson to sign off the inventory if he did not she threatened to tell the youth to invade his house. Wilkinson has since found out that Chikeza's sister Muphumira, who is involved with Victoria Milling, has also been allocated a plot on the farm and wants the house section.
Wilkinson traveled to Harare to discuss the removal of Seed Maize with Seed Co representatives and upon his return to the farm, the manager informed him that Dr Chombo and Col Mataruka had arrived and reconfirmed that nothing was to leave the farm and that Wilkinson was to 'Farm from Harare'.
After much negotiation back and forth between the workers committee and the owner, staff have accepted that retrenchment can only be paid once all the farming activities are completed. Wilkinson plans to transport his produce off the farm this week.
Over the last week Dr Chombo either in person or through Chakadenga, Phiri or Kangachepi have visited 8 farms in Mashonaland West, harassing them with a view to evicting them. Kangachepi is at present illegally resident on Erewhon farm owned by Jean Simon. Simon has a court order declaring her Section 8 order null and void.
A senior official in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has illegally taken over a Chinhoyi based farm, despite the fact that the High Court declared legal notices served on the farmer, Anthony White, null and void.
The Official, who is said to be the Director of Resettlement in the Ministry, a Mr Zishiri is reported to have already placed his cattle on the farm, and has grown a maize crop, against the owner's will.
Zishiri first showed interest in Long Valley Farm on 6th March 2002, a week after the Presidential elections, when he visited the property and demanded to see the owner. Zishiri proceeded to enquire from White exactly when he was planning to leave the farm.
White explained that he would not be vacating his farm as his Section 8 was due to expire the following day, in the absence of a Section 7 application having been made. Section 7 papers were delivered to him later that same day, by another vehicle from the Ministry.
A month later, Zishiri returned to Long Valley and ordered White's guard to share the guardhouse with a Gody Zishiri, presumably a relative. The guard was also ordered to open the guardroom so that Gody Zishiri could store maize. Attempts to get the police to intervene in the situation, which was an infringement of the guard's rights, were fruitless. The police merely instructed them to co-exist peacefully in the same accommodation.
On the 15th June 2002 Zishiri again returned to the farm and instructed the guard to order White to open up the farm sheds for his use. He later ordered Gody Zishiri in the presence of witnesses, to break into the sheds, break locks and break down walls if necessary. This destruction was carried out by Gody Zishiri six days later in full view of White's staff.
Police refused to respond despite White's Section 7/8 having been declared null and void by the High Court on the 19th June. Zishiri is said to have commented that he was the owner of the shed.
On his next visit on 7th July 2002, an Agritex official accompanied Zishiri. The pair arrived at about 11:50am and demanded that White pump water for the settlers and fill the dip. He also accused White of not co-operating with the settlers and refusing to co-exist peacefully. He threatened that he (White) would be the first person to be jailed for refusing to co-exist or to leave.
When White informed him that the compulsory notice (Section 8) had been declared null & void by the High Court, Zishiri stated that the law was of no consequence and that he himself was the law. He proceeded to inform White that the farm now belonged to him and threatened to have White evicted and a caretaker installed in his house.
Zishiri reportedly promised to make White's life unpleasant if he refused to co-operate. He insisted that White pump water for the settlers, and dip their cattle, which he had already been doing for some time. When White pointed out that this was expensive and no one would pay him for doing this, the Agritex official indicated that Government would pay the bill. White has attempted to obtain payment but has been unsuccessful.
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