High court urged to order arrest of Masvingo police official over stolen farm equipment

By Tererai Karimakwenda
10 January 2006

A group of farmers in the lowveld area filed a High Court application last week Wednesday urging the court to order the arrest of Masvingo Assistant police Commissioner Mrs. Ndanga. The seven farmers owned equipment which was seized illegally by the Masvingo Farm Equipment Committee which Ndanga is in charge of. The committee was supposed to take an inventory of equipment on the farms in the area but they stole it and auctioned it off for profit. The farmers now want Ndanga arrested for contempt of court and jailed for a period of 180 days or until she fully complies with the court orders.

Farmer Gerry Whitehead told us the equipment was still at the police station when orders to return it were issued. But it was then removed and not returned to the farmers. He said the Committee has not seized any more equipment from local farms but none of the stolen property has been given back. Whitehead believes the only recourse they have left is to sue officials on the committee, including Ndanga, in their individual capacities. But given that the police were present when the original thefts took place and even helped to load the government trucks that were used, the farmers have no faith in the system and do not believe they will get any justice. Whitehead said all the good police officials were removed from the area and what is left are officers with no shame. He said they must know they have protection at the top or they would not have committed these crimes.

The other problem facing farmers in the Masvingo, Chiredzi and Mwenezi area has been their ongoing disputes with A2 settlers who were given plots on commercial farms by the government. Having received no inputs or training – promised by government - the settlers have been accused of stealing crops and property and some are being used to force the original farm owners to leave. Whitehead told us problems with the A2s have continued. He said a farm manager was assaulted recently but could not yet reveal his name.

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