Lands minister Perrance Shiri has
ejected new A2 sugarcane farmers who grabbed Tongaat Hulett houses and evicted
company employees in the process, claiming they had five-year leases. In a letter addressed to Zanu PF legislator for
Zaka North, Robison Mavhenyengwa and the farmers, Shiri said the homestead
leases had been put on hold.
The letter dated January 25, 2019 read: “Ref
Homestead lease GL 1847. The above matter refers. Following a discussion
between the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement ministry and
Tongaat Huletts Ltd, regarding occupation of houses by A2 farmers land
beneficiaries, you are being advised not to move into the house you have a
lease for yet.
“In the event that you have already moved into
the house, you are kindly being advised by way of this note, to move out with
immediate effect. Please hold on to your lease and bear with us as we resolve
the matter. You will be informed of the final position in due course.”
At the beginning of January this year
Mavhenyengwa allegedly led a group of new farmers, who grabbed 4 000 hectares
of Tongaat Huletts’ productive land two years ago, and evicted supervisors and
overseers in section 6 and 7 Hippo Valley, from their houses, forcing them to
sleep in the open while others were accommodated at Triangle Country Club.
The evictions were met with resistance, leading
to running battles between invaders and company workers, resulting in property
destruction.
At one time Zanu PF legislator for Chiredzi
West, Farai Musikavanhu, had to intervene and pleaded with the workers not take
the law into their own hands, after a nasty confrontation between Mavhenyengwa
and the employees. Although the conflict became violent, Mavhenyengwa vowed to
stay put, claiming that he had a five-year lease for the house.
Mavhenyengwa could not be reached for comment
as his phone went unanswered and he did not respond to questions sent to him.
Of late Tongaat has been dogged by land
invasions which have disrupted the company’s productive activities, contrary to
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
“Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra. The
privately-owned company is one of the area’s biggest employers outside
government with 17 000 workers.
Tongaat Huletts secretary for corporate
affairs, Adelaide Chikunguru, could not be reached for comment. Newsday
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