Farm Report 05.09.00
Fresh farm invasions were reported at KweKwe at Mahamara Farm
while two cattle were slaughtered at MooiRiver Farm at the weekend. According
to the Midlands Commercial Farmers Union, the invaders at MooiRiver Farm were deliberately
leaving the gates open, resulting in a cattle mix-up.
At Bonwei Farm, there was an increase of invaders at the
weekend, and the owner was advised he would be evicted yesterday. The farmer
has vacated the farm to avoid confrontation, and police were called in to
address the invaders. Yesterday afternoon, 50 invaders surrounded the house,
but dispersed after the police intervened.
Hostile invaders on Loozani Farm threatened to take up arms
against the owner.
About 20 war veterans were removed from Sherwood Park School,
which they had occupied since March this year, but they were later replaced by
6 war veterans
There were more invaders at Sunnyside and Riverside Farms, while
truck loads of thatch and building materials were seen being taken on to
huntersmoon Farm.
Two farms in Gweru East, Plawsworth and Grainthorpe continue to be occupied by war veterans and ZanuPF supporters, although these farms were not gazetted for resettlement. Brian Hein of Plawsworth Farm said a group of war veterans and villagers had started pegging and chopping down trees to build pole and mud huts on the property. “They come for 3 or more days and then disappear, leaving the gates open, and they have warned us not to prepare our land for the coming agricultural season” said Hein. He said that despite warnings from the war veterans, the farmers had proceeded to prepare land for the coming season, but farmers in the area were very worried about the invasions in Gweru East. Hein said they had reported to the Police, and the CFU, who had promised to deal with the situation. “We are worried about the state of the lawlessness on our farms” he said.
Gareth Vermaak of Grainthorpe Farm in Gweru East said although
his farm was NOT listed for resettlement, about 74 families had moved in 10
days after the June Parliamentary elections, had started building houses and
interrupting farming operations. “We were told not to plant, and we have not
done any land preparation at all because of these invasions” Vermaak said. He
said he had lost a contract with a local company, Zimstock, where they were
feeding 1200 cattle because of the farm invasions. “They threatened to kill us
and we had no choice but to leave them on the farm”. Vermaak said reports of
thefts of electric motors, a bicycle and a diesel engine had been made to the
police.