Farm Report 09.06.00
War Veterans and their supporters
invading farms around the country are invading designated farms and are
targeting under-utilised land and farms owned by the farmers with more than one
farm. Rallies have now intensified and trucks from farms are being commandeered
to carry people from these weekly campaign meetings ahead of the parliamentary
election to be held on the 24th & 25th June. Below
are the reports from the Commercial Farmers Union farm invasions update.
The Farm Manager at Prangmere
was threatened for refusing to supply war vets with bread, but negotiations are
underway and the situation is stable. Two rallies were held in the area without
incident.
ZanuPF youths caused some
disruption to work at Longcroft Farm, but the situation is currently stable.
War vets are attempting to extort money at Chibara Farm, and it is hoped that
the situation will soon be resolved.
Requests for food and transport at
Butleigh Farm have been denied, but war vets have been allowed to view the farm
for pegging.
A ZanuPF rally was held at Jumbo
Mine at which an internal management problem was blown out of proportion and
the mine was closed down after threats were made to the manager.
After a rally held at Makombe
Farm, a farm lorry was commandeered to transport people home. This was reported
to the Police.
All was reported to be quiet on
Sando Ranch. On Angus/Mukwasi Ranch, more snares have been set and threats have
been made to the game scouts. There is also an increase in poaching. There has
also been talk of more people coming on to this Ranch.
No communications with them yet.
A report was received that a
meeting was held in Chiredzi last week and only 3 farmers attended as it had
been kept very quiet. Reports are that the war vets are not concerned about the
farms designated by the government, and that they are planning to take away
land that is under utilized, and farms from any farmer owning more than 1
property.
Janita Farm was invaded by 40
people. The outbuildings are being used as a base.
A guard was threatened when looking
for missing cattle on Wildebeest Farm. On Friday, Hillside Farm workers were
told to attend a rally on Highlands. On Sunday the workers attended the rally,
and the owners were not allowed to return to their property after an outing.
Police are not removing the invaders as they say they are peaceful.
There was a new invasion at
Prospect Farm.
Fynnlands Farm reported a shot
heard at 1pm on Sunday 4th June. Occupiers are threatening a work stoppage
on Sholliver Farm. 93 wire snares have been found on Kuti Estates in the last 2
weeks.
Police were called in to defuse
a situation on Clifford Farm. On Idaho Farm, invaders tried to stop the
grading, but eventually allowed the workers to continue.
A further group of 28 people
have arrived at Braithwaite Farm.
Berkley Chase Farm was invaded
by 70 people from the neighbouring resettlement area. This farm is on the
gazetted list for compulsory acquisition.
There was an invasion on to
Virginia with workers forced to pay $25 each for a plot and having to do their
own pegging.