September 23, 2002
KAROI
There are still two farmers barricaded into their homesteads in the Karoi/Tengwe area. Andy Kockott, after having achieved a peaceful resolution with his labour yesterday, is today once more under siege as the war veterans who had abandoned his farm have returned to incite trouble. He and his wife are currently locked into the house, and the electricity and water supplies to the house have been cut off from the outside. The labour have renewed their demands for retrenchment packages, notwithstanding the lack of a Section 8 order on the farm.
Another farmer, Tom High, is also currently prevented from leaving his property, and although the besieging group have not resorted to violence, he has not been allowed to leave the premises since Friday afternoon. The other cases of barricading in this area have been dissipated without violence.
Neighbours have confirmed that Zebra Downs Farm, belonging to Chris Bishop, is being systematically looted by the 50 settlers who are resident on the farm. The grain store was broken into last week, and some ten tonnes of maize destined as food for the labourers was stolen. Both the farm houses have been moved into by war veterans, as has the farm workshop complex, and there are reports some of the remaining 150 cattle on the farm being sold off. Chris Bishop has not received a Section 8 order, but has been unable to return to his farm for over a week.
CONCESSION
CHIREDZI
The thirteen farmers arrested in this area last week and over the weekend were brought before a magistrate today. The ZRP presented a case that they had failed to apply for an extension to their Section 8 orders. The magistrate found that this was not a viable charge, and ordered that they be released, whereupon the ZRP announced that were this done, the farmers would be immediately returned to prison. The court recessed for lunch to allow the ZRP to consolidate and present another charge, but when they failed to do so, the prisoners were released. For two days there were between 21 and 24 people cramped into a cell measuring 4m by 6m, and there were insufficient blankets for them too keep warm, despite the crowding. This is a classic case of harassment, since the arrest was on a spurious charge, and they were released without bail shortly thereafter.
MATABELELAND
A farmer in the Bembesi District was arrested today whilst attending a Lands Committee meeting. Neil Fletcher, of Zimbile Farm, was taken from the meeting to prison, although no charges were proffered at the time. He is currently on bail from a previous arrest in connection with a Section 8 order, the conditions of which allowed him back on the farm, and remanded him until the 7th of November. No further details are known.
Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, other copyrighted work is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for your own purposes beyond the 'fair use' exception, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Views are those of authors and not necessarily those of Canada Free Press. Content is Copyright 1997-2018 the individual authors. Site Copyright 1997-2018 Canada Free Press.Com Privacy Statement