Farm Report 14th Jun 2000
A group in a white Isuzu truck was moving around the area
claiming to be war vets and collecting food from farms yesterday. It is suspected
that this group are not war vets, but are taking advantage of the situation. A
farm lorry was commandeered from Rusimbe to transport people to a rally
yesterday, and has been seen driving around the area. The owner of Msitwe River
Ranch reports that a large proportion of his maize crop has been stolen.
ZanuPF youths commandeered a tractor and trailer from one farm
and collected youths from surrounding
farms to attend a pungwe.
A lorry was commandeered yesterday morning to transport people
to a rally. A group of war vets are currently searching the farm village for
opposition material at Bauhinia.
There was a work stoppage yesterday which was resolved.
There is still an occupation on Moriah Ranch. A new occupation
has occurred on Marriotti Ranch this week. Pegging is taking place.
There was a visit to Rockvale Farm, with an expected return.
Occupiers left Chimwemwe Farm for Doondo Farm, where building
has started. There have been reports of poaching in Ringari Ranch.
Young occupiers have pegged and left The Range Estate.
Unknown thieves broke into the homestead on SS Ranch. On Chiwe
Farm, there was a pungwe on Wednesday night. Labour were assaulted for not
attending.
Four cattle are missing from Chengu Farm, and two from
Nyamakari, which is adjacent to it. A meeting was held with war vets on
Nyamakari this morning regarding the relocation of cattle, so that huts may be
built. Occupiers are unhappy with Tredar Security Firm, and locked the gates to
the company. A ZanuPF rally was held at Romsey Farm, and threats were made to
key personnel. On Upper Romsey, Mr Maseko is waiting for Agritex to peg plots.
There was a walk-on on Binge,Eben and Lorraine Farms in Doma.
Three marathon runners were hassled by war vets while running
along the road, and later by ZRP Karoi. The owner of Buttevart Farm denied the
invaders transport, and his name was booked for possible reprisal. Harassment
continues on Runnimede Farm and there has been a work stoppage on the
seed-beds. There are demands that the labour should attend meetings. Tractors
have still not been allowed to work on Renroc, and labour is being harassed.
On Blackmorevale, war vets put rocks across the road and the
farmer lost his exhaust early this morning.
On Masterpiece Farm, war vets wanted the owner to plough with
them but he refused. Tree cutting continues. On Ranwig a dairy cow was shot
dead. On the Lowood Farm Rd, 50 odd Air Force personnel are currently “on
exercise”. The situation is being monitored. On Corleinor Farm, occupiers are
demanding that workers move off so they can be settled. It appears they have it
mixed up with another farm on the list. There have been a number of visits to
farms by youths, who are demanding transport to rallies at the weekend.
There have been quite a few demands for farmers and farm workers
to attend a rally on Sunday. This clashed with a cricket match. Don Carlos says
he will close down the Cricket club if farmers do not attend the rally. Police
have said they will put support units at the club.
Georgia Farm has been re-occupied.
& youths approached the owner of Stow Farm yesterday. The
owner asked the leader his name, the leader then opened his jacket to reveal a
pistol and told the owner he could drop him right there and then. The youths
then demanded to meet with the labourers, who were unloading a National Foods
truck. They got frightened when they heard this and told the farmer to go back
to Britain. The farmer was threatened and told to leave the farm by 4pm
yesterday. The farmer phoned the police who arrived within 20 minutes and
defused the situation. 50 war bets made the Ruzawi Ranch labourers peg the
farm, and charged the $25 each in order to feed the occupiers.
A white pick-up visited Maryhill Farm advising that they would
be back to take one of the farms. A shot was heard and the meat of 2 impala was
found on Lillifontein Farm. Tracks led to Collacc Farm, but Wedza security are
dealing with the report.
The commercial farming area is quiet, but there are rumblings in
the re-settlement area.
The farmer on Rivonia had to slaughter a beast for occupiers and
his labourers, in order for the occupiers to remove the boom they had set up on
the farm. The police and war vets leadership attended the scene in support of
the farmer, and he agreed to slaughter the beast for goodwill and to prevent
further problems.
50 war vets arrived to peg Middleton Farm, and left yesterday
afternoon.
There is extensive poaching at Redwood Park as well as
intimidation of staff, especially the night guards patrolling the ostrich pens.
Gates have been opened at night, and ostriches have stampeded through 2 fences
into the maize and paprika lands, resulting in the death of 3 ostriches and 2
with broken legs.
On Goodwood Block, large numbers of communal cattle are being
driven in and out of the ranch through holes being made in the boundary fence,
making monitoring and stock checks nearly impossible.
Manicaland
Police and Support Unit have moved off Roy Bennett’s Farm. He
has moved off as a result of this. There was a ZanuPF rally in Mutare
yesterday.