adminMpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
POLICE yesterday descended on a farm on the outskirts of Bulawayo to evict alleged Zanu-PF youths who occupied it recently, but the invaders had already fled in advance. The youths, occupying Denver Farm in Nyamandlovu, had already deserted the area when about 60 anti-riot police details, some with dogs, arrived on a mission to evict them at around 11AM.
Another group that occupied the nearby council-owned Mazwi Game Reserve also fled from the property before police arrived.
The Chronicle news crew arrived at Denver Farm at about 10AM before the arrival of the police and witnessed about one hundred land beneficiaries who had set up camp at the property fleeing in about five pick-up trucks.
They left behind pots, pans, clothing and some food items.
Also left behind were two vehicles, a Mazda Demio and a twin-cab.
Denver Farm manager Victor Moyo told Chronicle that on Friday last week, the invaders claimed ownership of the farm and vowed to stay put.
“I was clearing some fields when they came in their trucks. They told us we were underutilising the land and that they didn’t want to see us at the farm ever again,” he said.
“They set up camp and turned the farmhouse into their command centre and have been clearing and pegging the land since last week.”
The farm’s owner, Ndodana Sibanda, said he called the police last week on Friday after the youths invaded his farm.
“I called the police on Friday last week and they came today to disperse them,” he said.
The Chronicle news crew also visited Mazwi Game Reserve where Patson Parirenyatwa, Zanu-PF Bulawayo province secretary for lands, said they had every right to occupy the property as he represented over 3,000 party youths.
“We’re representing over 3,000 youths who voted for the ruling party. Anyone opposing us is also an agent of regime change,” said Parirenyatwa.
“It’s not a surprise that the city council wants to evict us because they are an MDC sponsored authority.”
Mazwi group’s chairman Tariro Magovanyika and his colleague, Mark Muunganirwa, have an ongoing case in the courts in which they are charged with criminal trespassing in relation to the occupation of the council farm.
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