Zimbabwe: War Vets Refuse to Leave Chiyangwa Farm

SW Radio Africa (London)

18 July 2011

A group of war vets and poor people are reportedly occupying a farm owned by businessman Philip Chiyangwa and have vowed to stay put, despite his efforts to evict them.

According to the Daily News Chiyangwa claims he bought Waterfalls’ Nyarungu Estate and successfully applied for an eviction order from the High Court. Rather than make plans to leave, the war vets have since registered a housing co-operative and claim that the land was gazetted by government so Chiyangwa cannot claim it.

The occupiers have gone on to mould bricks for building their houses and say Chiyangwa’s bid to remove them from their homes is tantamount to creating a’ black versus black farm grab.’

One of the occupiers, More Everson, accused Chiyangwa of derailing the land reform programme saying they will not obey any orders from anyone except Mugabe. “I will do anything in my powers to stop him from taking our land,” Everson said.

Under the controversial land-grab policy, ZANU PF encouraged its supporters and war vets to grab farms from white farmers. However, recent developments show that they are getting a taste of their own medicine.

In addition to the Chiyangwa case, recently ZANU PF MP for Marondera East Tracy Mutinhiri, had to seek police protection from a ZANU PF mob which threatened to take over her Tapiwanashe farm. Her former husband is retired army General Ambrose Mutinhiri who, with the help of war vets, seized the property in from its legal owner Mr Cartwright at the beginning of the land invasions.

Mutinhiri is understood to be under attack from within ZANU PF, following allegations that she is too close to the MDC-T.

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