Residents rally behind besieged farmer

Business — By on November 21, 2009 8:36 am

By Tsverukai Mturikwa

Residents in the Inyathi area of Bubi in Matabeleland North petitioned the Ministry of Lands, Rural and Resettlement and the area District Administrator to cancel offer letters issued against local farmer Glen James.

Locals are appealing to the authorities to cancel the issue of “an offer letter for the whole of Robert Block 14” farm. Ex-Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Misheck Cheda has been offered the 608 hectare piece of land which belongs to the popular Inyathi farmer.

The 14th November meeting was attended by Councillors, members of the War Veterans Association, Headmen Lameck Nyoni and Albert Sibanda among others. Apologies were made for Chief Mtshane Khumalo who failed to attend.

The gathering heard that ex-Judge, Mr. Misheck Cheda, Mr. C Dube from the Ministry of Lands and two armed men initially arrived at Robert Block 14 Farm on 26 August 2009. They ordered Glen James’ partner, Mr. Ernest Nyoni, to stop all work and vacate the farm as soon as possible.

The offer letter issued in favour of Cheda, Ref: LLRR 704, dated 21 September 2009, was only served on Mr. Nyoni on 7 October 2009. “This means that the ex-Justice and his men trespassed when they arbitrarily entered Robert Block 14 on 26 August 2009,” said one resident.

During deliberations, many grievances were brought up. Local leaders complained that their authority was being undermined by officials at Bulawayo’s Mhlahlandlela Building. 

For example, all Chiefs and Headmen were not informed of the intended takeover of Glen James’ farm by the ex-Judge. This showed that “Ministry officials have scant regard for the local leadership”. Furthermore, it was revealed that “all locals on the land resettlement waiting lists have not yet got offer letters.

Yet Cheda who comes from outside Inyathi has already got an offer letter. Preference should be given to people from Bubi,” said Headman, Albert Sibanda. Residents also lamented that if James was evicted, the community would not be able to harness water for their animals. The farmer supplies water to most of his neighbours. 

Inyathi residents at the meeting unanimously agreed that James suited their residential, political and social requirements.

“We treat James the same way we treat ourselves,” said one villager elder, “So this petition is not political. We do support the present Government. However, on this occasion, we meet on the realisation that our problems are insurmountable”.

A tearful Glen James was present to add his words. “I feel like I am … very much a member of this community. We have had our ups and downs, for many years. We have laughed, we’ve fought, we’ve talked but we have all learned to work together”, he said.

Approved minutes of a meeting held by locals at Robert Block 14, on 24 October 2009, reiterated that only land exceeding 1000 hectares was liable for expropriation. “Robert Block 14 farm is only 608 hectares and should therefore not qualify for seizure.

Moreover, it is the only farm that Glen James owns. This should make the case weigh in his favour,” said one headman.

In fact according to the Rural Land (Farm Sizes) (Amendment) Regulations, 2000, Section 3 (1) e states that, “Subject to sections 5 and 6, no person shall own a farm situated in Natural Region IV because it has a rainfall pattern of between 450ml and 650ml.

farming mugabeThis means that in terms of the, “One man one farm, one size in specified regions,” policy, the listing and offer letter against the whole of the 608 hectare Robert Block 14 farm is questionable.
 
The former Supreme Court Judge has driven his three (3) litre D4D Toyota Hilux, registration number AAN-4063 on to the farm. In addition, as shown by the photograph of the tractor number T242-07, Cheda has moved a Government owned tractor onto James’ land.  

“He is therefore enjoying the support of certain quarters of the regime”, said one villager who declined to give his name. Other Inyathi farmers whose properties are threatened with eviction are Fred Gerber, Chris Elliot and Mr. E. M. G. Dexter.

While lands ministry official, Mr. C Dube charges that, “Only five white farmers should remain”, in the district, war veterans are singing a different song. They say that, “The liberation struggle was about the removal of the racist system. It was not about colour”.

However at the start of the fast track resettlement program, President Robert Mugabe, emphasized and maintained that, “You must instill fear in the heart of the white men”.

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