|
Back to Index
Farm
invasions resume
The
Standard (Zimbabwe)
December 03, 2006
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=5383&siteid=1
VIOLENT farm
invasions have resumed in the Midlands province where two commercial
farmers are battling to get back on their properties, seized by
Zanu PF supporters from Kwekwe.
Sources in the
town said marauding Zanu PF supporters last month violently moved
into the farmhouses of Neil Saunders and Jeremy Vaughn and declared
themselves the new owners.
The sources
said the supporters brandished "offer letters" from the Ministry
of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, which they claimed authorised
them to take over the farms.
"We don’t know
whether the offer letters are authentic but these people are reported
to be close relatives of senior Zanu PF politicians," said a source.
"They are very interested in the two farms because they have irrigation
facilities and are doing well productively."
Commercial Farmers’
Union (CFU) regional manager for Midlands Vaughn-Evans last week
confirmed there were disturbances on two farms in Kwekwe recently.
"We have
reports that two farmers, Neil Saunders and Jeremy Vaughn are being
chased off their farms by Zanu PF supporters.
"Currently they
are trying to get legal assistance to try and stop the invasions."
Saunders of
Jenville Farm, a few kilometers outside Kwekwe, last week said he
was not ready to comment to the Press.
He has been
growing soya-beans, barley and wheat on his farm since taking over
from his late father, Neville.
Vaughn owns
Sub Division 1 of Ben Three farm. He could not be reached for comment
last week.
The government’s
chaotic land reform programme has led to an unprecedented decline
in agricultural productivity.
Pleas by Reserve
Bank governor Gideon Gono to halt the fresh invasions have gone
largely unheeded.
Gono has labelled
people continuing with invasions as "saboteurs".
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
