As the new unity government between the MDC and ZANU PF continued to take shape this week, it has emerged that one of the country's biggest commercial farms has been taken over by soldiers and police.
The company that owns Mazoe Estates outside Harare, Interfresh, this week said in a statement to shareholders that an invading group, led by uniformed soldiers and police, moved onto the farm last week and declared themselves owners of various plots on the estate.
Last Saturday, "a group of individuals accompanied by ZRP policeman and a uniformed ZNA military policeman claimed ownership of plots comprising Yarrowdale Farm, the crops section of Mazoe Citrus Estates." According to a ZimOnline report, the farm invaders ordered its employees to vacate the estate by Friday - ironically the same day the process to form the unity government was completed.
Interfresh said in its statement to shareholders: "The financial impact on the company, loss of employment and loss of food production in the event of total loss of this farm would be very significant."
The news highlights the many problems facing the new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in a government with Robert Mugabe - whose notorious land invasions have set a worrying precedent among his loyal militia and armed forces.
Analysts have said the unity government offers Zimbabwe its 'best chance in a decade to end its crisis' and put the country on the road to sustainable economic and social recovery. But many say major differences between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over fundamental issues such as the highly contentious issue of land reform could yet derail the unity government. And Mugabe is still in the seat of power.
Tsvangirai has called for an audit to establish who owns what land in Zimbabwe, but Mugabe has in the past repeatedly accused the new Prime Minister of wishing to return land to former white owners in his role as a "puppet of the West."
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Do you think that President Motlanthe will lend Zimbabwe troops to reign in these lawless elements? I think not!
Mugabe is going to simply circumvent the GNU and run his own administation by means of the JOC and the militia. The West will be looking very carefully to see how this little incident pans out. I hope that Morgan Tsvangirai pushes this one forward as a litmus test of exactly how credible this GNU is.
The people of zim should have decided the GNU with a referendum not leave it to a bunch of idiots with the exception of one in SADC and AU
This clearly shows that Mugabe has no control of the country. There is evidence of lawlessness in the country if spearheaded by Zanu PF then lets change course and call for fresh elections, because its waste of time joining lawlessness.
i will say it again, this so called unit govt. is a load of b.s! that country is in such a crisis the only way out is for a new liberation struggle against mugabe, zanu pf and their supporters.if blood must be spilled then let it be so.only by physically removing these animals will you be able to begin rebuilding a once great country.freedom has its price and the people of zimbabwe must pay it.
I bet you won't put up your hand to fight. Talk is cheap and bull**** walks! Mugabe fought long and hard - could you?
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