SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
30 November 2009
Notorious media 'hangman' Tafataona Mahoso has been implicated in the forced seizure of yet another farm in Mutare, as the countrywide wave of farm invasions continues to escalate.
Mahoso has reportedly ordered farmer Charles Bezuidenhout to leave his Welverdien Farm, which was sub-divided years ago as part of the so-called land 'reform' programme. Bezuidenhout had originally accepted the government's offer to split up the land, giving part to land beneficiaries, on the condition that he is allowed to continue farming on his smaller piece of land. But that guarantee has gone up in smoke, with Mahoso last month storming the property and announcing he was taking over.
According to media reports, Bezuidenhout had resisted Mahoso's attempts to evict him, arguing there was no offer letter to support the claims to the land. But Mohoso has now reportedly returned with an offer letter, ordering Bezuidenhout to leave immediately.
"It's the law of the jungle really. Mahoso produced an offer letter and just took the farm just like that," Bezuidenhout reportedly said.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise in Chegutu where land invaders have been on the rampage since last week, targeting at least four farms for seizure. Groups of thugs, often numbering more than 15 at a time, have been barricading different farming families in their homes, shouting abuse at them and threatening to burn down their homes. Sue and Thomas Beattie, who last week were given five days to leave their Umvovo farm, battled the whole weekend with hordes of land invaders, who barricaded them in the house and set tires on fire around the home.
Ben Freeth, whose homestead was burnt to the ground earlier this year, explained on Monday that the situation has remained 'dire'. He explained that burning tires are constantly being lit around the house to try to intimidate or smoke the Beatties out of their home.
"The tires were being burnt again when I spoke to Sue over the phone on Saturday," Freeth said. "Her house was full of smoke and she was choking on the acrid smoke as we spoke."
SMS messages being relayed by the Beattie's family have also detailed the ordeal. On Friday one message read that Thomas was "being chased by people wielding sjamboks." Another SMS on Saturday read that "tires are being burnt around the house," and "drums and raucous singing outside bedroom windows from midnight. Large fires-one on porch nearly lit the thatch, this is too scary."
The Beattie's son and daughter-in-law, Charmaine have also been targeted on their Rainbow Ends farm, where this weekend Charmaine and the couple's ten year old daughter were both threatened. An urgent SMS from her read that "12 of them stormed our gate. Drunk and aggressive. I tried to hold gate closed but they forced it." Charmaine managed to lock herself in her house, reporting via SMS that the land invaders "went around banging on all windows and shouting threats and abuse. My husband arrived about 10 minutes later."
Freeth on Monday also speculated about the root of the attacks in Chegutu, arguing there are clearly top officials involved. Already the Speaker of the Senate, Edna Madzongwe, who this year led the violent takeover of Stockdale Citrus Farm, is said to be behind the increasing attacks in the area. The attacks themselves have been ignored by the police, who refuse to act despite the piles of official reports of abuse, harassment and violence in the area. Freeth explained how the local police have turned a blind eye to the lawlessness in Chegutu, saying they are obviously receiving orders from high up.
"The Chegutu police would not be able to act with such impunity over so many months if it weren't for someone powerful like Edna Madzongwe," Freeth said.
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