White farmers refuse to vacate land, destroy maize

Chief Reporter Emilia Zindi

SOME white farmers whose land was acquired by the Government for resettlement purposes have reportedly destroyed maize fields belonging to new farmers in Mashonaland West, claiming that the land was theirs.

At least two new farmers who had done dry planting had their germinating maize crop destroyed recently.

It is said that the white farmers are refusing to vacate the land and to recognise the new farmers’ offer letters.

One new farmer, Colonel Tony Kapanga, said he lost over 20 hectares of his maize crop on Wednesday after the former owner of his Chingford Farm in Selous, Mr Colin Cloete, allegedly ploughed the land. He said he also lost billions of dollars worth of fertiliser he had applied to the crop.
Col Kapanga said problems started last year when he was allocated the farm. Mr Cloete allegedly refused to vacate the land claiming that it was still his property.

Col Kapanga had to use another part of the farm, which Mr Cloete was not using.

“I got the shock of my life on Wednesday when I saw Mr Cloete’s tractors busy ridging the same fields on which I had planted maize. His workers were scattered all over my fields picking up the maize seed for their use with Mr Cloete saying he wanted to plant tobacco,’’ said Col Kapanga.

Police at Selous confirmed the incident saying they had opened investigations into the matter.

When contacted for comment, Mr Cloete said he had ploughed down the maize seed because Col Kapanga was not supposed to be on the farm.

“Selous Police have recorded my statement and are charging me with malicious damage to property, but when Mr Kapanga was disturbing me no one came to my rescue. This is my farm and the house in which the police details are housed is my father’s house, so how do you explain this?’’ said Mr Cloete.

At Maunze Farm in Darwendale employees of one Mr J.S. Crowley allegedly ploughed down more than six farmers’ fields which had seed maize.

One of the affected farmers, Mr Roy Chinanga, claimed he had nine hectares of maize destroyed by Mr Crowley’s managers.

“I used seed from last year’s reserves but that has now been ploughed down and I do not have anywhere to turn to,’’ said Mr Chinanga.

Mr Crowley could not be reached for comment as he was said to be living in Harare.

Adapted from The Sunday Mail, Zimbabwe.