Farm Report 17.08.2000
War
veterans continued to invade farms and interfere with farming operations
countrywide.
The owner
of Nainital Farm in Horseshoe, near Mvurwi, was visited by officials from the
President’s office, who asked a lot of questions and informed the owner that
they would be visiting all other “affected” farms.
About 30 war veterans
attempted to peg stands at Amajuba Farm in the same area. The owner locked the
gate and told the veterans that they would have to break it down if they wanted
to peg the land. They did not do so, but set up a roadblock on the farm dam
road. They removed the roadblock the following day.
War
veterans at Manovi Farm would not allow the owner to start preparing tobacco
seedbeds as the farm has been designated. Police have been informed.
Suspected
war veterans, said the CFU, tried to assault a security guard (working for a
private security company, Mazsec), who had been assigned to guard a dead cow at
Seddies Farm in Glendale. The war vets were trying to get meat from the cow.
Although Glendale police were informed, they were unable to react due to a lack
of transport.
War
veterans were causing disturbances at Rydale Farm in Nyabira after one of their
flags went missing.
At Jenny
Springs Farm in Marondera, a war vets leader, Pasco, has built a hut in one of
the paddocks where the cattle graze. The farmer has been forced to move his
cattle into feed pens. This farm is also being used by war vets as a pathway to
other farms.
Invaders
are building all over Rupture Farm in Marondera North. At Rapids Farm, there
were now another 6 huts being erected.
In other
areas, the situation is as follows:-
Harare South
Following
newspaper reports on the abduction of schoolchildren at Stoneridge Farm last
week, the owner was forced to leave his property.
Wedza
At Shaka
Farm, there was theft of fencing, and two arrests were made. A war veterans
leader known as Chigwedere visited Ben Viljoen, a farmer, and advised him that
he would return.
At Rupako
Farm, a calf was slaughtered on Saturday evening, and one arrest was made.
Chigwedere, angry at the arrests being made, threatened to go to war with the
members of Wedza Farm Security.
A war
veteran known as Gibson, arrived at Dean Farm in a white pick-up and started to
sell plots on the farm
Enterprise
There was
a work stoppage at Saratoga on Monday.
Bromley/Ruwa
A tractor
belonging to Richard Cotham, the owner of Dunstan Farm, was stopped en route to
feeding cattle, and its headlights were smashed. The war veterans informed the
driver that he should not be working on Heroes Day.
Macheke/Virginia
There was
an increase in activity after David Karimanzira, the governor of Mashonaland
East, held a meeting with the war veterans on Sunday morning.
There were
work stoppages at Salama and Leyland Farms.
The owner
of Airlie Farm was issued with a four-day eviction notice.
The war
veterans occupying Journeys End Farm were now demanding a share of the land.
Macheke police were refusing to act, according to the CFU.
Filabusi
War
veterans held a meeting at Cala Estate on Sunday, and told people to return the
allocated stands.
Nyamandhlovu
Junction
and Dingwell Farms were occupied on Monday.
Drysdale
and Blackwreath Farms were occupied last week.
War veterans
at Cawston Block Farm were trying to Chase hunters away from the farm.
According to the CFU, there were indications that this had been orchestrated by
Matabeleland North governor, Obert Mpofu.
Chinhoyi
Another 7
war veterans were arrested for stealing maize at Braeside Farm.
Templeton
Ranch had 5 paddocks set alight.
Chakari
War
veterans, on Saturday , told the owner of Newbiggin Farm that he could only
plant on half of his land.
Four farms
in the area have had permanent structures built on them, while war veterans
were cutting trees on many other farms for selling purposes.
Selous
At Wicklow
Farm, permanent houses were being built.
A new
group of peggers arrived at Alfa Farm.
At
Meadowlands and Northwood Farms, the invaders are collecting wood and selling
it.
Wicklow
Estates saw an influx of people arriving at the Farm on Monday.
About
1.5km’s of fencing had been stolen from Scotsdale Farm on the previous night.
Kadoma/Battlefields
There was a
new occupation at Madodo Ranches, Ardconnel and Overlaw Farms.
Security
guards at Alabama Farm arrested war veterans for stealing maize, and the police
charged them.
There was
a new invasion with pegging at Umsweswi River Block 6.
Invaders
at Kanyemba Farm started a fire, which burnt one camp out.
Chegutu
It appears
that the farmer on Tiverton Farm has vacated as a result of threats from war
veterans leader, Gilbert Moyo, who has a case pending against him on the
alleged theft of tractors. He has allegedly issued a number of death threats,
including one at Concession Hill Farm.
Leny Farm
was visited by war veteran Makoni, and Agritex(Dept. of Research &
Agricultural Extension Services), to start dividing the land.
Norton
At Ardmore
Farm, war veteran Bundeti directed the removal of all cattle and game from the
property, as the owner had reported the former freedom fighters to the police.
At
Beverley Farm, allocation of land was being done by the Government, using a
raffle system with bottle tops in a hat.
Mwenezi
Numbers
have decreased at Merrivale Ranch and people were reported to be moving off the
farms. There was escalation in the cutting of grass on Quagga Pan Ranch. There
is a continued pegging of plots, cutting of trees, and poaching in the rest of
the district.
Chiredzi
There is
extensive tree cutting at Buffalo Range.
At the
Save Conservancy, a rhino’s right rear leg has been caught in a snare. It has
been trapped for about 6 days.
More
snares were spotted at Chigwiti, Senuko and Angus Ranches.
Four
poachers were reported to be at Mukwasi Ranch and one of them attempted to
throw a spear at one of the managers. They had killed a warthog.
A baby
elephant was caught in a snare at Mkwasine Ranch at the weekend. At least 18
snares were removed over the weekend.
Victory Block
The police
have been informed of a work stoppage at Mutendamambo.
Mvurwi
Fifteen
invaders demanded a map from the owner of Mwembezi Farm and then proceeded to
peg.
Donje and
Govete Farms were visited by unknown people, who told the workers that they now
owned the Farm.
Mutepatepa.
Police are
investigating an incident of 2 goats killed by unknown people on Crewkerne
Farm.
There has
been a report of a kudu and impala found in snares on Tara Farm. Snares appear
to be on the increase in the area.
Harare West/Nyabiri
About 50
occupiers were pegging at Berea and Landscapes Farms. Invaders have threatened
to close down the clothing factory on Stockade Farm.
Mazowe
Three
truckloads of war veterans, previously at Mayfied Farm in the area, arrived at
Sigaro Farm.
Macheke/Virginia
There was
a work stoppage on Faroe Farm in Virginia.
Farm
invaders have taken over 2 stores in Macheke – MashCo and Farmers Supplies.
Two men
armed with axes and beer bottles arrived at the previously occupied Goldilands
Farm, and told the owner not to do any more land preparation because the farm
and house were theirs.
A heifer
is missing from one of the paddocks on Eden Farm.
Karoi
At
Landithy Farm, the workers were assaulted and abused from midnight to 2.00am.
Some MDC T-shirts were confiscated.
There was
a work stoppage at Ardingly Farm on Wednesday, which was resolved.
Musha Wedu
was visited by war vets who stated that, as a result of the stayaway, no more
work would take place in the future.
The owner
of Grand Parade was surrounded by about 23 war vets, and the local reaction
group diverted them. On Buffalo Downs and Magunje, roadblocks were set up by
war veterans and the respective owners were stoned and all traffic had to be
diverted.
Inyathi
A
resettlement ceremony will take place on Goodwood today. The district
Administrator has allegedly ordered the shooting of 2 kudu on the ranch for the
celebration. Agritex have been pegging plots all week.
An American
hunter was stopped at a roadblock set up by war veterans, verbally abused, and
threatened with spears and sticks. Inyathi police did not react, and the shaken
client has been withdrawn to another area to continue his hunt.
Mwenezi
Seventy
seven head of cattle are still missing. Regarding cattle that have been found,
there is proof that cattle’s ears have been tampered with, in that ear marks or
tags have been removed.
Chipinge
The
provincial governor, rural council, army, and war veterans, held an official
ceremony to move people onto Ypres on Tuesday.