Farmer demands US$2,1m for farm

April 10, 2009

Commercial farmer Digby Nesbit

By Owen Chikari

MASVINGO- Digby Nesbit, a Chiredzi commercial farmer and businessman whose farm has been invaded in a fresh wave of invasions, has demanded US$2,1 million from the state for developments he made on the property.

Nesbit made the demand as his trial for failing to vacate the property continued at the Chiredzi magistrate courts on Thursday. He was responding to questions from the state during the trial.

Nesbit, whose farm was invaded by senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai, said he was not resisting any moves to leave but would only do so after being paid US$2,1 million for the developments he made on the farm.

“I made developments to the tune of US$2,1 million on the property and would leave the farm once the money is paid to me as compensation by the state,” said Nesbit.

“In addition to developments I made on the farm, if I am to leave my machinery, then the state has to pay me before I leave.”

Chiredzi magistrate Enias Magate postponed the case to next week as the trial which has attracted a lot of attention here continues.

Nesbit is represented by Rodney Makausi of Chihambakwe, Makonese law firm while chief law officer Tendai Zvekare is leading the prosecution.

At least seven commercial farmers based in the South Eastern Lowveld, the sugar cane greenbelt of the country, await prosecution after they allegedly refused to vacate their farms which have been acquired by the state.

The co-minister of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa has been quoted as saying the issue of fresh farm invasions is complex as the invaders are reported to have in their possession letters written by the Ministry of Lands to offer them the farms.

“We are at the moment trying to establish the authenticity of these letters before we effect any arrest,” said Mutsekwa.

“We are working with the Ministry of Lands to verify these offer letters and then we will go on to arrest people who are on the land illegally.”

The supreme court of Zimbabwe last week ruled that the prosecution of white farmers who are refusing to vacate their acquired properties was lawful.

Meanwhile, three senior Zanu-PF officials have been named as the main culprits leading the terror campaign aimed at evicting the remaining commercial farmers.

The president of the Council of Chiefs , Chief Fortune Charumbira, former Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman retired major Alex Mudavanhu and former Masvingo provincial chairman of the war veterans Isaiah Muzenda are said to be leading the campaign.

Charumbira, who already owns Acton Farm on the outskirts of Masvingo, is bracing to take over Mitchel Farm owned by Antony Mitchel, while Mudavanhu chased away a farmer named only as Sparrow and has already shared the property with Muzenda.

The property formerly owned by Sparrow is a conservancy with a lot of wild animals, among them lions.

Sources within the police said they had received information linking the three to the campaign.

“We have received several reports about Charumbira , Mudavanhu and Muzenda leading the terror campaign but we cannot arrest them since the whole issue is political,” said a senior police officer at Masvingo Central Police Station .

“You know it very well.”

Although Charumbira could not be reached for comment Friday, Mudavanhu and Muzenda confirmed their occupation of Sparrow’s property.

“The farm is now ours,” said Mudavanhu “What is now left is to take over the farm house.”

Sources within the police said Muzenda and Mudavanhu were having problems handling the lions on the property and had since approached the Department of National Parks and wildlife for assistance.

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11 Responses to “Farmer demands US$2,1m for farm”

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Fidzo says:

April 11, 2009 at 7:23 pm

The people behind the delay in swearing in Roy Bennett into cabinet as deputy minister of agriculture. They are afraid that they will end up having to give back his farm and that is why they refused to give up the powerful ministries such as that of land to MDC because all these invasions would have been stopped, and ministry call on the ministry of home affairs and justice to reinforce the rule of law.

Zanu-PF outsmarted the MDC in the resolve to hold on to the powerful ministries, meaning the MDC is rendered powerless. Zanu-PF does not want any of the MDC’s ideologies and they will continue skimming the little fat left on the ministries the MDC is holding and Mutambara will side with Mugabe most of the time.