SEVENTY-FIVE people, comprising families of workers at Centenary Farm in the Figtree area of Matabeleland South, were on Tuesday night thrown out of their dwellings by deputy chief secretary in the office of the President Ray Ndhlukula’s representatives.
Njabulo Ncube Deputy Editor
Ndhlukula is trying to seize Centenary Farm owned by David Connolly in defiance of a High Court order.
He reportedly caused chaos at the farm at the weekend before moving his personal belongings and equipment to the farm by force.
There was heightened tension on the property yesterday after Connolly’s workers were forced to seek refuge in the bush while their families sought shelter at a garage within the farm.
Some of the workers that suddenly found themselves without jobs had been at Centenary Farm since 1963.
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About 40 menacing people linked to Ndhlukula were patrolling the area around the farm house when Southern Eye arrived at the farm about 30km from Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.
Connolly and one of his longest serving employees Timothy Sibanda were busy harvesting tomatoes, onions and cabbages under the watchful eye of the intruders.
Ndhlukula’s household property, including a bed, wardrobe, garden chairs and cupboards, were left on the veranda of the farm house.
Some of the invaders were cutting down trees around the property using home-made axes while a man who appeared to be their leader drove around the farm in a green tractor. They refused to entertain any questions from journalists.
Wives of evicted farm workers were seen cramped at a garage about 4km from Connolly’s house.
The workers said the eviction by the senior civil servant had thrown them into an uncertain future.
“It is sad what is happening. My late father worked here. I was born here and because someone from the president’s office wants this land we are being kicked out overnight,” lamented Sibanda, who was born at the farm in 1934.
Connolly vowed to stay put at the farm.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) 75 people, my workers and their dependants were thrown out of their houses,” he said.
“They are staying in the bush in the open while their wives and children have sought refuge in a garage.
“My property is still inside the farm house. I have only taken my dogs to Bulawayo because they were getting agitated as the invaders threatened mayhem.”
Connolly was expected to meet a delegation of visiting Australian legislators in Bulawayo last night.
He has received an outpouring of support from the local community and fellow farmers.
One of the people supporting him is Ben Freeth, a victim of the violent land grab who has tried to seek justice from international bodies such as the now defuct Sadc Tribunal.
Freeth said the invasion was a bad advertisement for Zimbabwe ahead of the Sadc summit to be held in Victoria Falls next week.
“It does not bode well for Sadc people. What we are seeing is the Zanufication of Sadc,” he said.
“But people in Sadc need their countries to respect the rule of law so that farmers like Connolly can produce and their countries become productive so as to create jobs.
“What is going on at this farm shows there is no rule of law and the danger is that it could spread to other countries as we assume the chair of Sadc.
“Yesterday police refused to protect the workers as they were being kicked out of their houses.”
The government recently claimed that farm invasions were no longer allowed in Zimbabwe.
