THE farm ownership wrangle involving a Reserve Bank deputy governor and a Chinhoyi commercial farmer turned bloody last week after a man shot and seriously injured five workers and assaulted several others.
According to witnesses, including Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) officials, the shootings took place on Thursday after a worker identified only as Tichiona who is employed by deputy RBZ governor Edward Mashiringwani brought in "thugs" to evict the workers from Friedawil Farm.
The pig farm belongs to Louis Fick, a South African citizen who is also CFU vice-president.
"We have just received news of the shooting," said CFU president Deon Theron.
"Unfortunately Louis wasn't on the farm at the time of the shooting as he is in Harare meeting with his lawyers."
One of the victims, Kelvin Rutsito, said Tichiona and another man identified as Spencer hired more than 50 people from the nearby Chikuti resettlement area after Fick's workers refused to vacate the compound.
Tichiona who was armed with a gun loaded with rubber bullets, allegedly fired at the workers who had gathered within the compound after they ignored his warning shots.
The workers who were shot included Josiah Bazare, Florence Bazare and Nelson Arikani.
Another 10 were reportedly injured in the commotion that ensued. Three of those shot were rushed to a Harare private clinic while others were treated in Chinhoyi.
A medical practitioner at the Harare clinic who requested anonymity said one worker was admitted and the other two were treated and discharged.
"Two of them had big cuts on the head. The other one who was admitted has a bad knee injury and we are waiting for a specialist," he said.
Police, as has become the norm, did not react. Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri said he was not aware of the case.
"I am not aware of the case but I will try to find out, "he said.
The shootings were a culmination of an ongoing dispute over the farm's ownership.
Mashiringwani has been trying to evict Fick so that he can take over the farm. Last month, Mashiringwani moved onto the farm with 15 guards who threatened senior staff and beat up one of the resident guards.
Mashiringwani's workers also locked the gates leading to the pig sties and crocodile enclosures and would not allow water and food to be taken to the animals.
Since then Fick's cattle have held in an enclosure and denied access to grazing.
The shootings at Friedawil farm comes against the backdrop of an increase in cases of violence on commercial farms in recent weeks in Mashonaland West province. The situation on farms around Chinhoyi has reportedly been tense.
Meanwhile, the country is heading for serious food shortages as the renewed violence against the few remaining commercial farmers continues unabated, the CFU has warned.
Theron said production on commercial farms was almost at a standstill with about 400 farmers facing eviction from their farms.
He said 153 farmers had been hauled before the courts for allegedly refusing to vacate their farms.
A total of 12 farmers and 34 workers have been convicted to date, heightening insecurity in the agricultural sector countrywide.
He said due to the ongoing violations of commercial farmers and their workers, prosecution threats and lack of security of tenure, the majority of commercial farmers will not be able to plant crops this season
-Additional reporting by our Chinhoyi Correspondent.
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Since when has the Standard Newspaper reported the truth especially on issues to do with the land, Zanu-pf or President Mugabe? It is always propaganda meant to tarnish the image of the country and people of Zimbabwe as if the owners of the Newspaper are not Zimbabwean.
If we go by the story written by Sandra Mandizvidza, one can actually tell that the Boer, Louis Fick, is refusing to vacate our land. The land was designated according to the laws of Zimbabwe and he has been given enough time to pack his rubbish and leave but he is refusing. He is now staying on the farm illegally and that is why he is using black workers to disrupt farming activities of the newly resettled farmer, Edward Mashiringwani.
I have no sympathy for the Boer at all as he is now abusing our hospitality which he has enjoyed since his ancestors, led by Rhodes, occupied our lands in 1890. I also have no sympathy for those of my skin color who are being used by the Boer but do not stop to think how Fick came to possess such a huge farm when they do not have a square meter to grow vegetables. All they are interested in is being exploited by the filthy Boer who pays them peanuts.
We will not leave any stone unturned in our desire to liberate every square inch of our land - the land of Mutapa, the land of Murenga, the land of Nehanda Nyakasikana. The land mass of DZIBAHWE is our heritage and we will liberate it whether Fick, Deon Theon and all those who support them like it or not.
I think the question is actually, "Since when has Takunya posted without telling lies?"
....the landmass of the living dead. ....the landmass of Mugabe Zanu-PF brainwashed idiots.
takunya: there is a fire on that mountain. leader: it is lava from a volcano.
takunya: Should I fill a bucket of water and put out that fire?
leader: Yes my son and please get as close as you can. Just throw yourself into it and I will give you a farm. Run.
takunya: Mayiwe! Mayiwe! Mayiwe! Mmmayyyiwwwe.
leader: Ha ha ha ha. Idiot.
Kjrs120;
I know what I fought for. I know what I want and I know what I am defending. I, therefore, do not need anyone, including idiots like you, to tell me what to defend and what not to. I am defending my heritage and that of posterity. I fought not for myself but for all Zimbabweans, including sellouts like Biti and Tsvangi.
Takunya funny you have deliberately killed, maimed thousands and made millions run away. What are you talking about? Whatever you are doing is for your own selfish reasons so don't try to be all goody goody because we all know what sadistic killers you are. The real liberators are voiceless because you baboons have the guns and nothing else. Fighting for your land but YOUR hands choking and fertilizing that land with the remains of YOUR own people with YOUR own hands? My ass. I wish you wouldn't even bother speaking about love of country because you are just a useless thug just looking out for your own arse.
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