White farmers 'invade' Zimbabwe farms

White farmers 'invade' Zimbabwe farms

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By Staff Reporter

SEVERAL of Zimbabwe's new farmers, resettled on at least four farms in the Chegutu area, have been sent packing by some former white commercial farmers who "invaded" their land.

They cited a recent High Court ruling that nullified land offer letters issued by the government under the land reform programme.

The eviction of the new farmers came amid reports that scores of former white commercial farmers in Mashonaland West have besieged the courts seeking orders to evict newly resettled farmers in the wake of the High Court ruling.

President Robert Mugabe's government has, however, reiterated that despite the court ruling, all new farmers should stay on their allocated pieces of land pending the issuance of new offer letters.

The High Court last week nullified offer letters issued before the promulgation of the Constitution Amendment (No. 17) Act 2005, creating a new wave of uncertainty among scores of new farmers whose land is being contested.

Judge Bharat Patel ruled that the new farmers' offer letters were invalid since they were issued before the promulgation of the new law which makes all land acquired under the land reform programme state land.

Judge Patel made the ruling following a case in which a white-owned commercial farming company was contesting the resettlement of three new farmers on Farnley Farm in Chegutu.

This comes against the backdrop of most new commercial farmers who occupied formerly white-owned farms during the controversial land reform programme, reportedly failing to pay their workers stipulated wages because of low production levels over the past three years.

Apart from that, the gazetted monthly wages for farm workers are "pathetically" low and most of them are living in abject poverty.

The president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers's Union (ZCFU), Davison Mugabe, confirmed the problem, saying the new farmers were having difficulties paying their workers because they were "starting up".

A survey by Beeld in Chegutu revealed that some new farmers were being evicted after former white owners were granted eviction orders by lower courts on the grounds that the offer letters were invalid as ruled by the High Court.

Their former workers were reportedly assisting them resetle on their original farms.

"Whites were much better than our balck brothers as we have now gone for more than three months without being paid at this farm," said Gibson Menje, a "foreman" at Ardlui Farm.

The new farmer John Majasi was said to have been evicted by a messenger of court with the former owner taking over his old farm.

"The house Majasi was living in was destroyed and burnt while he quickly moved his property and equipment to a nearby farm," said Majasi’s neighbour, Solomon Chidhakwa, adding Majasi had since left the area and his whereabouts are not clear.

One of the former white owners who was on the farm when this crew visited the farm, Peter Zietsmen, told Beeld that Majasi had been evicted because his offer letter was invalid.

"The house was actually ours and not Majasi’s. The messenger of court mistakenly destroyed it.

"Majasi was in the wrong place that is why he was evicted," said Zietsmen's wife.

"It is our right to be here and no one else's."

At Hallingbury Farm, the new farmers said the white commercial farmer had returned and was busy with his own operations. He said 16 farmers were allocated plots on the farm.

One of the farmers, Obert Kudyarawanza, said the white farmer started tilling land allocated to the new farmers while workers on the farm were allegedly ordered not to work for the new farmers.

"We are in serious trouble here. He (the white farmer)say s he is seeking eviction orders so that he can return to his farm." - Africa Media
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