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And the land seizures start up again...

Two more white farmers kicked out

Wednesday 11 April 2007

By Nqobizitha Khumalo

BULAWAYO – Zimbabwean police officers last week stormed two white-owned farms and ordered the owners to vacate the properties in what observers said was a clear indication of ongoing lawlessness within the farming sector.

The police, led by a Senior Assistant Commissioner Chivangire, stormed Portwe Farm in Inyathi district in Matabeleland North province and ordered David Jourbert, to vacate the property as it now belonged to the police.

The police seized keys for the lodge and other buildings at the farm and told the farm workers that they were now working for the state.

It was not clear why the police seized the property.

Joubert has since filed an urgent High Court application to force the police to move out of the lodge. He also wants the police to return hunting rifles that were illegally confiscated from the farm during an earlier raid last February.

According to court papers, Joubert wants the court to bar the police from harassing workers and interfering with operations at the farm.

Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri is cited as the first respondent while Assistant Commissioner Chivingire is the second while Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi is the third respondent.

“The relief sought is the return of the keys to the farm buildings confiscated by the second respondent and return of firearms unlawfully confiscated by officers acting under the authority of the first respondent.

“Eviction of police officers employed by the first respondent from the premises of the applicant whose presence on the applicant’s property is not lawful or necessary,” reads part of the application.

In Masvingo, police invaded a farm belonging to Brian and Sally Alford in Chiredzi district and claimed that it now belonged to former Masvingo provincial governor Willard Chiwewe’s daughter, who is in her 20s.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on the matter.

“That issue (farm invasions) is not is not within my jurisdiction. Why don’t you speak to the Minister of Lands, he might tell you exactly what is happening,” said Bvudzijena.

Efforts to contact Land Reform and Resettlement Minister Didymus Mutasa were fruitless last night.

The new farm invasions come months after President Robert Mugabe’s government announced that it would not allow fresh farm invasions.

Zimbabwe, once considered the break basket of southern Africa, has grappled with severe food shortages over the past seven years after Mugabe sanctioned the seizure of white farms for redistribution to landless blacks.

Senior police and army officers as well as government ministers seized most of the farms with most government officials owning more than one farm in clear violation of the government’s one-man-one-farm policy. - ZimOnline

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