Productive farms seized in Midlands and Manicaland

By Tererai Karimakwenda
11 December 2006

The government has shown no desire to stop illegal farm invasions despite repeated public pronouncements by top officials that they would take action. The Zimbabwe Standard newspaper reported last week that violent farm invasions had resumed in the Midlands province where two productive commercial farms were seized by Zanu-PF supporters from Kwekwe. Another productive farm in Manicaland is also reported to have been invaded.

The Standard report said marauding ruling party thugs last month violently moved into farmhouses owned by Neil Saunders and Jeremy Vaughn, producing "offer letters" from the Ministry of Lands. It is not clear whether the offer letters are authentic. A source told the paper that the invaders were close relatives of senior Zanu-PF politicians. The two farms are said to be very productive and with irrigation facilities.

The Standard confirmed the incidents with officials from the Commercial Farmers' Union in the Midlands who said they had reports that Saunders and Vaughn had been chased off their farms by Zanu PF supporters. The farmers have sought legal assistance in an effort to stop the invasions.