The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has described the invasion of Esidakeni Farm in Matabeleland North as an illegal and tribally motivated plot.
The farm is co-owned by Siphosami Malunga, director of Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), businessman Charles Moyo and scientist at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Zephania Dlamini.
In a state gazette, Lands minister Anxious Masuka said the farm measuring 553 hectares and situated in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North province is being compulsory acquired under section 72(2) of the country’s constitution, attracting widespread condemnation.
In a statement, following an assessment visit to the farm by a delegation from the opposition party on Thursday, MRP described the farm invasion as motivated by greed.
“Our visit follows threats by corrupt, selfish, greedy and inconsiderate people who are bent on self-serving at the expense of genuine investment and employment creation,” MRP said in a statement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Zimbabwean Constitution and its laws governing the land reform programme, land (farms) that is legally owned by black Zimbabweans can not be repossessed for the purposes of redistribution.”
MRP alleged that farmworkers they spoke to on the ground said one Dumisani Madzivanyati, an Accounting Lecturer at NUST, has been visiting the farm in the company of suspected Central Intelligence Officers threatening workers and disturbing ongoing farming activities.
“The workers told us that Mr Madzivanyati is a known violent thug who attempted to murder one of the Directors Mr Dlamini at the farm with a log, when he had been asked why he was driving on crops in a farm that didn’t belong to him,” the statement read.
“The case was reported to the police who have since twisted it giving Madzivanyati a complainant status. Madzivanyati has a tendency of breaking gate keys to the farm, thus displaying his vandal character.”
The opposition party stated that the farm at the moment is producing a wide range of vegetables and has created employment for the locals.
“The farm currently has over forty employees, a herd of cattle and some goats, several hectares at the farm currently have onions, cabbages, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes. There is also a storeroom with butternuts and onions ready for the market. How would someone be so callous and disruptive to the extent of wanting to stop such production which the country is seriously in need of?
“As a party, we will always stand by our people. We formed MRP specifically to protect promote and defend our people and we believe in the rule of law than in lawlessness.”
Contacted for comment, Madzivanyati said he was not at liberty to get into detail as the issue was before the courts.
“I appreciate you getting in contact with me but unfortunately I can not comment on the matter because it is before the courts already. I am a law-abiding citizen and I benefitted from a legal land reform program. As long as there is no ruling on the matter yet there is nothing that I can say,” he said.
