CFU vice president Gifford ordered to vacate farm in Chipinge

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 May 2006

In a shocking revelation the vice president of The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) Trevor Gifford has told SWRADIOAFRICA that he has been ordered to vacate his farm in Chipinge and make arrangements for a new owner to take over. This comes at a time when the CFU says they have been in discussions with government regarding a new plan to give back land to whites who were evicted during the land invasions. Ironically Gifford’s own farm has now been invaded.

On Wednesday he told us that a group of 10 people including police and lands officers first visited his farm 2 weeks ago on Friday. They came back the following Monday and informed him the farm had been taken. Gifford said: “They told me that basically the land has been given to Mr. Mbanje and I was to work a plan with him to move off and for him to take over the business.” Mbanje produced an offer letter signed by Lands Resettlement minister Didymus Mutasa. But Gifford is still optimistic. He told us that he has a high court order from 2000 which protects him from any interference with his farming. He said the chief of police is supposed to assume the responsibility of assuring that he is left alone should any invaders disrupt his business.

But Gifford’s farm was already partially occupied before this new offer letter. He told us himself that in 2000 he had 1000 hectares of crops which were taken over. He was left with only 250 hectares which he has been farming and now even that is under threat. “If the new owner has his way,” he said “I will be left with nothing.” Gifford said like other farmers he has applied to occupy the land on which his business is located and is waiting for a response from minister Mutasa. But the lands officials do not seem to be processing any applications as there are some farmers who applied as far back as 2000.

Gifford and the CFU have been criticised for cooperating with government while at the same time being stabbed in the back. Gifford still insists that there are some sincere officials who want to save agriculture. He said this is why the CFU is talking to government about giving land back to whites. Just last week minister Mutasa was reported to have denied these claims by the CFU that the government was considering giving back land.