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| author/source:CFU |
| published:Fri 1-Nov-2002 |
| posted on this site:Sat 2-Nov-2002 |
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| Article Type : Report |
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| Mayhem |
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REGIONAL NEWS
MANICALAND
Odzi - Ongoing theft of irrigation pipes, motors and pumps.
Chipinge - Cattle are disappearing from all owners on a daily basis. There was a labour dispute on one farm and the owner given ten minutes to move out.
Burma Valley - There was a labour strike on 26.10.02 on a farm in the valley. This is a personality clash amongst the workers and a meeting has been arranged between the Councillor and the workers to try rectify the situation. The farmer who was removed by the National Land Task Force has sorted out his problem and is farming.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
No report received.
MASHONALAND EAST
Harare South – reported 21.10.02 that a farmer with a Section 5 and no problems to date, came
home to find the DA, OIC with several policemen and a crowd of people on his farm. The DA was in the process of splitting up his farm and handing out pieces to the crowd present. They were very aggressive, but then left. The farmer expected them back the following day.
MASHONALAND WEST (NORTH)
Raffingora/Ayrshire - There are now eight white commercial farmers actively farming in the Raffingora area. Some of these are still awaiting results for the D.A. & P.A.'s Offices concerning LA3 downsizing/sub-division applications. The date for the next evictions draws closer. We believe there are only three white commercial farmers in the Mutoroshanga area. Of interest is some farmers have successfully sold, or are in the process of selling, farms to black businessmen. (This is not relating to the above) We estimate nine farms in this category. All other farms have been pegged and settled to some degree, mostly A2 in the central Raffingora unlike the A1 settlement/allocations last year. Progress in general on tillage is not good from either group of settlers. The countryside is now completely burnt out, with cattle de-stocking going on furiously. Theft on all properties is horrendous, in particular electric motors, irrigation equipment and bananas. This is going to be the biggest problem, especially now that Tredar Security has closed down. The Ayrshire club remains closed and the settlers are trying to re-open it if they can get enough members. Plenty of strangers and unknown vehicles moving around the District.
Doma – there are six people farming, with two farmers having SI6 problems. The Sunkist Farm owner was told to leave his farm and apply for land elsewhere by the D.A. Settlers demand implements, maize meal and money. Ex labourers have no money and no food. People are starting to starve. The Farways Farm owner had to send in a petition to ask the settlers if he can farm his coffee plantation, as it has been sub-divided.
Nyabira - Huge theft experienced which is unsustainable. Theft on all properties is horrendous.
Tengwe - Caversham Estates owner was barricaded in his house because of SI6 problems. The Renroc Farm family was barricaded in their house (including wife and small child) because of SI6 problems. The Oribi Park owner’s wife was barricaded in her house and the labour went on strike because they say they have been graded incorrectly. The manager’s house was totally trashed with doors and baths ripped out.
Umboe /Doma – the Umboe and Doma Farmers’ Association will have joint meetings every second month. Umboe now has less than 10 farmers. Some Section 8’s have been delivered. The Highbury Estates manager’s wife had a road traffic accident near Banket has been taken to the Avenues Clinic for stabilisation. She is recovering and will be home in a couple of days. The army arrived on Victory Estate bringing seed and fertilizer on their army truck. They came ostensibly for an anti poaching patrol but the owner was barricaded in his house, with electricity cut off and drums beaten continually outside. The problem is still unresolved.
Tengwe – the Holme Lacey and Silver Lining Farm owner faces pressure with someone starting to plough at the instigation of the ex-Major Maponga. Maponga wants to move into the house and barns of Holme Lacey Farm. The owner has no assistance from the Police who say he must see the D.A. Neither farm has a Section 5 or Section 8. At Meddury Farm and Solera Farm the ex-Maj. Maponga posted two armed guards at the pipe on a dam so no water is “let down” to both these farmers who are due “let down” water. They both have tobacco and paprika in the ground and need water desperately. Police say it is not their problem and they must speak to the D.A. A large crowd broke windows on Rugare Farm. The owner was extracted and is unable to return. ZRP again say it is not their problem. All the windows and doors were stolen from the farm village at Manna Farm. Police will not react. At Ian Penny Farm a Mr Mapfumo, a teacher at Tengwe School, intimidated labour causing a work stoppage. The farmer is feeding and watering his large egg operation by himself. No vehicles are allowed on the farm, and Mapfumo’s locks have been fitted on the gates. The farmer has to climb under a fence and walk to his neighbouring farm. Police will not attend to the matter, and again claim this is a matter for the D.A. Mayor Gumbo of Kariba is claiming Bonanza Farm for himself, and has paid the women settlers to harass the owner. The owner was threatened and moved off the farm. Police will not react and state it is the D.A.’s problem. The owner of Zinyewe Farm has been off the farm for two weeks. Settlers have broken in and stolen some items, which is under investigation. The owner of Inanda Farm faces daily pressure to move from the house and to pay off the staff. ZRP say they have a Section 8 and can do nothing about the situation. The Meidon Farm labour want packages and the owner cannot grade his tobacco. In general, there are continual problems of strikes lasting 2-3 days at farms where workers demand SI6 packages. The Police in Tengwe are not a police force. They have selective law enforcement and therefore there is no order. There are four Coffee farmers left in Tengwe, with six coffee farmers forced off their farms.
MASVINGO
Masvingo East and Central – the Farm A owner is under continued harassment from settlers that have moved into his homestead and refuse him permission to continue with land preparations. Farm B reports that poaching is rife within this park. Attempts at electrifying the fence have failed after all electrical equipment was stolen.
Mwenezi UPDATE – As from October 22, 2002
Farmer C was ordered by settlers to remove his 400 head of cattle from the farm, and his only working borehole is now unable to sustain the extra demand of settlers’ livestock and human demands for water. The water held in reserve will be depleted within a day or two. Offers to open up another borehole in return for grazing for his cattle has been denied. The DA does not appear to be asserting his authority and the owner has been unable to contact him for two days now. The situation is tense and he has not returned to live at his farm. Assistant DA Hungwe visited to attempt resolve problems there. Settlers, who have forced their way into Farmer D’s house, evicted him form his only home. They demand he pays them rent for his remaining livestock. His cattle are unable to move off the farm due to the Foot and Mouth Disease quarantine. He was only issued with a Section 8 notice a few days ago. This is extremely cruel behaviour meted out to an old man in his eighties. The cattle have been forced to stay in the pens “until the evicted owner sells them”. Agritex teams visited four farms writing up each farm’s moveable assets, saying that it would be an advantage for the owner to allow them to do so. The cattle sale at the Lion and Elephant was stopped after a single case of FMD was confirmed at the sale. All 450 head are to be sent for immediate slaughter, which is a huge loss to the beef industry because the cattle were in poor condition and should have been fed for 60 days before slaughter. The immediate loss to the owner is in the region of ZW $18 million. Although there is only one visible case now the virile nature of the disease will cause it to rapidly spread through the confined herds. This will mean that many thousands of livestock are now destined to die as they are trapped on farms without adequate food. Infected oxen will be unable to plough for the settlers. On 24.10.02 there was a confrontation between settlers on Farm F and the manager on Farm G. The dispute is over water and cattle were forced to stay in the pens. When the cattle were finally released after a telephone conversation with Inspector Moyo the settlers insisted the cattle and paddocks were theirs. This claim of ownership is bound to be the next step orchestrated to retaliate over South African protection. The Police will attempt to get the elusive DA there to meet with the settlers and resolve the situation. Assistant DA Hungwe visited farm H to advise settlers that they are to be removed next week and sent to Farm J. He enquired of the owner whether this move would alleviate the present pressure on the water supply system. Nine heifers stolen from Farm K were recovered in Sengwe communal land over 100 km away. Seventeen steers from Farm L were loaded on to a lorry and driven to Pahlela area of Sengwe. They are still being tracked, as they could not go far on foot because they were Hereford cross which do not like the heat.
Chiredzi - Snaring and poaching continue. The Farm M owner is experiencing continued problems in trying to obtain his eight motor engines from the property.
Save Conservancy - Reports of a wild dog with a nasty snare wound on its neck and a young black rhino with a snare on its rear leg. As yet they have not been caught. No visible change except that there appears to be an increase in clearing and there is serious poaching going on in areas where there has been a green flush in the vegetation. The courts are not playing the game and are handing down ridiculous sentences like community service.
Gutu / Chatsworth - A team from Agritex has been moving around the farms in this area recording all the equipment on the farms. Stock theft and theft of wire continue. A large number of the cattle from a Chatsworth group of farms have been relocated to grazing in the Mwenezi district. The area where these cattle are grazing has now been quarantined for FMD. The grazing the owner leased down here is now finished so he has been moving his calving cows to another leased property near Masvingo. This has now been stopped and could be the death of 500 cows and their calves because they will no longer be allowed to move off the farm. Stock feed is in limited supply and the economic viability of buying stock feed is out of the question. The owner has continued problems with the District Administrator Gutu and the "war vet" on the Mazongogroro property.
MIDLANDS
No report received.
MATABELELAND
No report received.
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