UPDATE on DEVONIA SOUTH

UPDATE WAKEFIELD FARM - CHEGUTU

Submission by Dennis Lapham (Born 6/2/42 Rusape) Ref Devonia South

Farmed in Bindura from 1974 On Robara farm which we purchased .

Owing to the development of Cluff Gold Mine on the property we had to make way for this development and sold to immediately buy Devonia South in 1990 with a certificate of No interest by the government. Paid 30% capital Gains Tax

Pannar requested a Trial site in 1994 which we agreed to, under our preparations.

Farm Invasions in 1999 disrupted the programme and in 2000 we were evicted for 40 days but allowed to return.

6th Nov 2002 the farm acquired by Govt [Made letter ] and "given "to Pannar who asked us to continue to run the farm for them and produce Seed crops, Soya, Sorghum, Sugar beans, Wheat, with Maize being the main focus .

We then paid gratuity to all farm Labour with change in the operating company.

With inflation two years ago we were paid US$9.60 per Tonne for Seed Maize, which was a major financial disaster for us. Last year our plantings were down due to the Zesa shortage and again this year.

We were allocated 127 Ha on 27th Feb 2003 ( Case No LA 2751/02) after a court set down which included our homesteads and sheds on the property.
We do not have own any Houses in town. This allowed us security to
continue.

We wrote in response to the Sect 7 listing of Devonia Sept 2004 Delivered to Minister of Lands.

We then wrote to Special Affairs in Jan 2005 with this information, Hand delivered to Mr. Mutsonziwa 13/1/05 We never got any replies

Temba Nkatazo the GM of Pannar assured us that all was in order.

Herbert Shumbamhini { HS } who I met for the first time with Bhika, Goromonzi lands Officer and from Min of lands, Matimba, Mugabe (planner) and Guramombe on the farm on June 2nd to say Marondera had proposed he is given 353.5 Ha of land

HS reiterated that he did not want to touch any of our crops or will take our House.

He wanted a good relationship.

Nkatazo said he would handle this as he wanted as much Maize Seed to be grown as possible. We are the only growers of PAN 53 which requires a zero plus 4 plus 4 day split in two male and the female plantings. Two male & four female lines. Their excellent high yielding variety.

We have had our water to the homestead severely curtailed, with only three days water in the last six weeks. He switched off the ZESA Last
week on 20th and On Sat to date Locked the transformer. He has moved 55
head of Cattle on to the farm. He Demands that we pump water for his Ha of Cabbages.

He has built a house and shed . A boom is being erected at the bottom of the road with a guard house.

We have not been given any papers to date !

He had 5 transformers put into his name without our permission. He agreed to put two back into our name at a meeting with Lands Committee Supt Meki Supt Chitondwe and T Nkatozo from Pannar were present. He renaged on this

I took a letter from Gollop & Blank to Marondera and Mr P.Mashingaidze signed receipt and agreed to reverse

Sun 30th he came & broke the locks on the main pumphouse & the Dam one and said we now have to request water from Him ! Police attended but wanted us to agree on sharing water only.

The farm has been fully productive at all times.

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Things got worse & worse today.

A really horrid day here, as MEANIE [Herbert Shumbamhini ] broke the Pump house lock and took over our pump house !! and Dam one also !!
Brought 7 "helpers"

Police came after one & a Half hours and said we have to co -exist !! He said we now have to ask him for water after switching off the pivot !!!
Defies understanding!!.... What about the ZESA payment? they saw Meanie paid a $120 deposit on 2 July to get it into his name.

I said the Lawyer wrote a letter demanding the transformers be put back
in my Name They [zesa ] agreed.

He then agreed to pump water to the pivot again So it worked till power cut at 7pm

Will have a busy day tomorrow.

He has switched our Transformer off & Locked it on Sat Night, So, , , No Water or power at our house ! We are effectively Homeless, Staying at Hunters house.

Dennis Lapham

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UPDATE: KHB ESTATES - WAKEFIELD FARM

Attached are photos of my tobacco seedling beds which have been sprayed with a chemical which has killed aproximately 90% of my seedlings.Kutsaga said it was sprayed with a non-selective herbicide(Dr Susan Dimbi).

The week before - on the 20th August 2009, I had been taken to High Court with an Urgent application to evict me from my homestead and to stop all farming procedures. The magistrate dismissed this with costs.

Further and after the High Court application - these incidences have
occurred:

24/08/09 RRB 0605919 "theft of sprinklers from tobacco seed bed site

25/08/09 RRB 0605925 " Mrs Pambukani physically assaulted my manager Mr Charles Bizabani - assault case

26/08/09 RRB 0605928 "Mrs Pambuakani removed sprinklers and proceeded to attack and damage tobacco seedlings at seed bed site and then stole said sprinklers.

29/08/09 RRB 0605938 "malicious damage to property - spraying seedlings with herbicide - worth approximately US$400 000.00

On a daily basis, myself and my workers and especially my manager, Mr Bizabani, are harassed and constantly being told to stop farming or work of any nature.

Kenneth Bartholomew

Wakefield Farm,

Chegutu.

PROTEST the City of Harare’s misplaced priorities

Despite the outcry from Harare residence at the purchase of a USD 152,000 Mercedes Benz for Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, the City of Harare has reportedly purchased two Prados. The combined cost for these vehicles could be as much as USD 190,000. This means that the City of Harare has spent over USD 340,000 on three luxury vehicles in the past month. According to CHRA, this would be enough money “to procure water treatment chemicals that can supply the entire city of Harare with clean water for almost half a year.”Harare residents are furious about this extravagance – especially in the face of failed service delivery with our water, sewage, rubbish and roads. Contact the City of Harare and lodge your complaint. Phone 04-753000 or 752979 or email wms@hararecity.co.zw

Appeal for Ben Freeth’s family

For years, Ben Freeth, his family, and farm workers, have been under pressure to leave Mt Carmel Farm in Chegutu. On Sunday 30 August, a bush fire was lit near the Freeth’s thatched home on the farm. There was a howling wind. In no time at all their farm house was on fire. They managed to get their passports and laptops out, one dog and her puppies. Their little Scottie and Jack Russell dogs died in the flames. The farm invaders who have beaten, tortured and harrassed the Freeths and Mike and Angela Campbell for years now just drove past on Ben's tractors pulling Ben's water bowsers. They even stole the laptops out of Ben's truck where he had left them amid the chaos. Ben and Laura and their three children (daughter aged 5, two sons 7 and 10), as well as three of their farmworker families have been left with nothing other than what they stood up in. Please open your hearts, and your cupboards, for these wonderful and brave families - clothes, blankets, eating and cooking utensils - absolutely anything would be so gratefully accepted. Contact: Mel George 011-405218 or David and Kerry Kay 302090 on 0912-434082, to arrange drop off.

The Freeth family home was burnt down

The Freeth family home was burnt down yesterday and they have lost everything. They have 3 children, girl aged 5 years and two boys, 7 years and 10 years. If you have anything that you could give to help them through this time (clothes etc) please may you drop off at number 91 West Road, Avondale.

This is a farming family who have been hassled a lot since they won their land case through the SADC tribunal. Their film, 'Mugabe and the White African' has been nominated for an Oscar.

Thank you
Kerry

KARORI Farm Update

Brigadier Mujaji continues to defy the law. For the past three weeks we have been put under huge pressure by Mujaji and his soldiers. Mujaji has told me he will allow me to deliver my maize and tobacco provided I agree that the farm belongs to him. Plain extortion. The soldiers have shut the farm down for two weeks in August and then seized our tractors and irrigation equipment. We have been stopped from putting in a crop for this season and the soldiers have now taken all the keys to the farm.
The police still refuse to act despite all the court orders we have in our favour. The rule of law has totally collapsed and the national army are doing what they want. We still have 150 tons of tobacco and 400 tons of maize waiting to be delivered and this is all deteriorating. It is clear that Mujaji is using the army to steal what he can with the support of the government and police just because he has soldiers who take orders. Everyone in the area knows we were properly allocated the farm in accordance with the land programme and this is straight criminal theft and looting of the worst order. There are over six soldiers on the farm at any one time and all armed.

We have still maintained our presence on the farm and every day we try and grade our tobacco only to be stopped whenever the soldiers feel like stopping us. Last week they fired shots over the heads of the guards to remind them that they are armed and should be obeyed. The police still ignore our near daily reports to the station stating they have been informed not to act by their superiors. The country is desperate for food and production and this is carrying on unabated. There is a warrant for Mujaji's arrest issued by the high court but this is ignored. The unity Government should intervene if it is serious about attracting any sort of investment.

Something to think about

Attention Cathy Buckle,

Dear Kathy,

Recently arrived in Australia and an X tobacco farmer's wife I read a letter from you with the added letter from a child which is telling the whole story as I know it. I go a bit further and say we were known on the farm as the Mama and Baba. We did not suffer the trauma that a lot of farmers have done as we 'retired in time to avoid that.' Nevertheless we built up the infrastructure with our tobacco, wheat and maize that we grew. This was what we consider helped to build the country into a really rich and vibrant forerunner in Africa.

We look back and see ourselves finally behind a security fence, adams grenades surrounding us and having to carry firearms that we hated the thought of using. Working police reserve duties and running the farm while my husband was protecting other farms. All this time trying to have a life and supporting a huge labour force that we had for over the 36 years with children born on the farm, taught on the farm and working on the farm. These were the children that in l980 destroyed the school, the
beautiful oak desks that I had managed to buy from a school that
renovated. Not to mention the books which they tore and defecated on. My little Salvation Army teacher just ran away. Not happy thoughts of those days.

I really admire and pray for the people of Zimbabwe as do so many Zimbos who have left and moved away. I am really happy to move here now as I have my two children who left their country where the grew up in, went to school and played sport for. and proud to wear their county's Zimbabwe blazer.. We know we are all a special breed and most of the people who left have left a huge gap there and the country is the loser by far

I saw my husband die at the one hospital in Harare with staff that did everything they could for him, I know that they were really caring and I will be forever grateful for that. We have wonderful doctors still and I will never find the bond I had with mine in Zimbabwe, here.

Thank you for your letters, I actually do not normally receive them and would love to if you can and also anything from Jag that is available. I will remain a voice in the down under although you will have my email address and I ask for confidentiality.

Best wishes and God Bless.

Yvonne..

Kay Mills

Kay Mills passed away on Saturday 29th August 2009. Wife of the late Pat Mills, Mother of John, Robert and Jill, Grandmother of of 6 and Great Grandmother of 3. Her funeral will be held at Nazareth House, Highlands on Friday 4th of September at 2:30pm. Contact Jill Fulton on 882194