Vusumuzi Dube
Sunday News Reporter
IN a tumultuous saga of resilience and defiance, Kennedy Masimba finds himself embroiled in a fierce battle for his inheritance on the hallowed grounds of Chikwakwa Communal Land in Mashonaland East Province.
The piece of land, once belonging to the revered National Hero, Major General (Retired) Godfrey Chanakira, has become a battleground where political allegiance clashes with the dreams of a determined farmer.
The late National Hero was Permanent Secretary in the Office of Vice President Honourable General (Rtd) Dr. Chiwenga. He passed on at West End Hospital in Harare on 26 May 2022 after suffering from a heart condition. He was 65 years old.
Upon inheriting the land from his late uncle, Masimba harboured ambitions of transforming the property into a thriving agricultural venture. However, his aspirations were quickly overshadowed by the daunting specter of politics, a realm he had always sought to avoid.
The situation escalated when a relative disclosed that his uncle was a staunch Zanu-PF supporter and hinted that Masimba’s ownership of the land hinged on embracing a similar political ideology.
Refusing to succumb to coercive pressures, Masimba adamantly declared his singular focus on agriculture, rebuffing any attempts to manipulate his beliefs for land retention.
This steadfast stance against political manipulation, however, triggered a series of harrowing attacks on Masimba, orchestrated by shadowy assailants intent on driving him off the coveted land.
In a heart-wrenching revelation, a relative disclosed the relentless threats and assaults targeted at Masimba, emphasizing the assailants’ unwavering resolve to force him out of the property: “They won’t stop until you vacate the land,” the attackers menacingly proclaimed.
The relative revealed that at the height of the attacks, Masimba’s wife Memory Chaukura had to flee with two of their kids, because of the persecution they were facing.
Masimba’s unwavering commitment to his farming vision in the face of such adversity symbolizes a valiant stand against political coercion and intimidation.
As the clouds of uncertainty loom over Chikwakwa Communal Land, Masimba’s struggle epitomizes a poignant narrative of courage, perseverance, and the unyielding pursuit of a noble dream amidst the turbulent currents of politics.
Online Reporter