UNDER-siege Mazowe villagers on Monday reportedly slept in
mountains as they engaged in running battles with members of the Zimbabwe
Republic Police, who had come to evict them for the umpteenth time from the
disputed Arnold Farm.
According to the villagers, it all started when the police
officers came and advised them not to erect new structures at the farm. The villagers are contesting their eviction to reportedly
pave way for the expansion of First Lady Grace Mugabe’s business empire.
Villagers told NewsDay that after the stand-off with
police, riot police officers came for reinforcement, forcing the villagers to
seek refuge in nearby mountains, where they spent the night.
Some of the villagers who sustained injuries during the
ensuing melee were reportedly admitted at a private hospital in Harare.
“Police came to the farm warning people not to construct
new shelters since they claimed our days were now numbered at the farm,” one of
the villagers, who identified himself as Munobvei Tichafa, said.
“We have a pending case before the courts and police have
always denied that they are harassing us, so one of the villagers was filming
them. It all started when they realised that they were being filmed.
“Police went on to assault the villager while ordering him
to delete the pictures. We decided to fight back when police started
indiscriminately assaulting other villagers. They were about eight and we
overpowered them. They started throwing stones at us and we retaliated. They
called the reinforcement, which came and attacked everyone. We were overpowered
and we fled to nearby mountains, where we put up for the night.”
Others said they could not afford to live without shelter,
with the onset of the rainy season.
Some said they had minor children, who have been constantly
exposed to violence, hostile environment and weather conditions.
However, Mashonaland Central provincial affairs minister
Martin Dinha said the villagers should leave the farm.
“I am not aware of the alleged incident, but we have
repeatedly advised the illegal settlers at Manzou Game Reserve and Conservancy
and all other illegal settlers elsewhere occupying land illegally to move. They
are choosing to be used as pawns in a game of opposition politics, NGOs and as
perpetual headline news by opposition papers,” he said.
“We gave them alternative land and they returned to Manzou
Game Reserve and Conservancy, a designated parks area and a Nehanda National
Monument reserved area. They should not be at Manzou at all and I am surprised
you say they are there.
“My records show that we voluntarily resettled all of them
long back in compliance with a High Court order. We are now tired of the Manzou
circus and call on the squatters concerned to abide by the law and stop this
untenable and unproductive feud with government.”
Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson Dickson
Mafios said he was not aware of their plight.
But MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu described the attack as
uncalled for.
“It is a great pity that Grace Mugabe is unlawfully
evicting those poor people who know of no other home, but Arnold farm. It just
shows the level of selfishness and heartlessness of Grace. Already, the First
Family owns several farms in prime farming regions of the country,” he said.
Gutu said the country should reject the privatisation of
the country by one family.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association chairperson Passmore
Nyakureba said: “We implore the government to respect the Constitution and stop
the fast-developing trend towards the creation of a police state.” Newsday
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