Evicted farmer jailed for more than a week

Posted by on Friday, February 17, 2012 in farming, Zimbabwe politics | 17 comments

Charles Taffs, President of the Commercial Farmers Union

By Alex Bell
17 February 2012

An elderly farmer who was evicted from his farm several years ago as part of the land grab campaign, has spent more than a week behind bars as the battle for his new home intensifies.

74 year old Peter Hingeston was forced off his Lowveld sugar cane farm in the mid 2000s and ‘retired’ to a house and plot of land in Vumba. But it’s believed that a top police official wants that property and for the last four years Hingeston has been fighting to stay there.

The President of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), Charles Taffs, told SW Radio Africa on Friday that Hingeston was meant to appear in court last Friday. But Hingeston, who suffers from high blood pressure and who Taffs said “is not a well man,” missed his court date for medical reasons.

“He had a legitimate medical reason and excuse for not making that court appearance. His lawyer said it would be fine, and in a normal situation is would be,” Taffs explained.

But Hingeston was arrested on the same day he missed that court date and has been held behind bars ever since.

A very angry Taffs explained that the police are delaying Hingeston’s bail attempts, with excuses that the case details have been ‘mislaid’. The former farmer will now remain behind bars until next week, after a bail hearing was postponed on Friday.

“This is absolutely unacceptable! This has nothing to do with land reform. This is just about greed. We are hearing that there is a police official from Mutare who wants this house, and that is all that this is about,” Taffs said.

He added: “We have no one to turn to. No courts, no political party, no police to help. No one. And it is completely unacceptable!” Taffs said.

Hingeston is expected to face a bail hearing next Tuesday.

  • Merlenecottier

    This is really disgusting and where are all those polititions who sided with Mugabe you are very silent you are the cause of this

    • Chimbi Manwa

      You are very right Merlenecottier. It’s high time people stood up to these thieves. Heinous crimes are being committed all in the name of land redistribution.

  • Anonymous

    Those who take the farm are going to die there with fire and hail.

  • Carey

    Unreal, poor Mr Hinge!!! Told my Mom who has known them for over 30 years and she is horrified.

  • Griffnat

    Dirty filthy scum bags hope he can hang in there while those greedy savages sort there crap out bring back the 7.62

  • Sharonvanheerden

    They just greedy, they take the land and do nothing with it… Hence why zimbabwe has
    a starving nation.. I feel so sorry for my people back home.. I HATE GREEDY PEOPLE

  • Rosy

    Poor Peter, can’t believe it’s happening to him again, must tell my folks too, they will be so sad. Our fellow Zimbabweans, time to to call it quits there, it will never change while Mugabe is still in power. Unfortunately for people of Peter’s age it’s very hard to leave and start over. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the family.

  • Jenfa

    The ZRP have a mission statement that they say they uphold! Where is our Police Commissioner regarding his greedy staff and their behaviour? Name and shame this despicable character and let him face the outrage of those who don’t think or act like him. A photo of this policeman, on the front page of our “independent ” papers may help!

  • FaceItmaZimba

    steal two farms, lose two farms

  • Jons

    Please leave the old man alone. He has had enough already by giving up his farm. People forget that he is Zimbabwean Citizen too. Why would lock up a frail old man just like that. I m black man but this is too much now.

  • Blair

    Land 2 the Blacks

  • Bush

    Death to all against Land reform

  • Mr Fanwell muka nothing

    “We have no one to turn to. No courts, no political party, no police to help. No one.” -Well that quote from the CFU just about sums up it all up!! How can anything be done about something using nothing including this issue which is pretty sad indeed. `Bob` will not accept a golden `handshake` so continue to accept nothing comes from nothing. lol