Bishop Manhanga confirmed that he withdrew voluntarily from
the farm he had grabbed from Rob Smart to avoid confrontation when the farmer
returned.
“I voluntarily moved off the farm to avoid confrontation
and tension and in anticipation of the official communication. As of now I have
not been served with an official letter of withdrawal.
I am a beneficiary of the land reform programme, and if the
authorities decide to reallocate me another land to pave way for his return, I
will abide by it. At this point I do not have other documentation apart from
the offer letter that was given to me,” said Bishop Manhanga.
The other occupant, Chief Tandi said he was in the process
of removing his property from the farm.
“That is the official position (Smart’s return) and I am currently
engaging the relevant authorities to be assisted with alternative land and also
to be allowed to continue working on the crop that I had planted till I
harvest. I don’t mind being allocated another farm, all I want is farmland in
my area. Government should guarantee a smooth transition because our relations
are not good.
I was allocated land by Government, and I will continue to
deal directly with the same authority to avoid confrontation,” said Chief
Tandi.
Smart was last Thursday escorted to the farm by
Government officials to a glorious reception by farm workers and peasant
farmers who fought from his corner to have the eviction halted. They opposed Mr
Smart’s eviction saying he was supportive to the community and was born and
bred at that farm.
“It feels good to be back. The eviction had reduced me to a
beggar as I had to move from one friend to another for tenancy. This (Lesbury
Farm) is my only home, and I have no other home, and nowhere to go. I was born
and bred here, making this the only place I call home,” said Mr Smart.
He said President Mnangagwa’s new administration respects
agricultural property rights.
“I am grateful to the new Government for reviewing my
eviction and respecting agricultural property rights. I was treated unfairly,
and I am grateful to President Cde Mnangagwa and our Provincial Affairs
Minister Cde Monica Mutsvangwa for intervening to reverse my eviction. I am
elated.
“The farm workers and community are elated. All the farm
workers should immediately return and start work. I know they have been
scattered, but they should return, I want all of them to resume work because we
suffered together. We were in it together. They fought from my corner, they
suffered for my return, and this victory, courtesy of the new administration,
belongs to all of us,” said Smart.
0 comments:
Post a Comment