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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
A CLASH between 22 Banket tobacco growers and the leaseholder over control of tobacco barns threatens to jeopardise about 40 hectares of leaf now ready for curing.
The barns were left by the former commercial farmer at Birckley View Farm, about 15km southwest of Banket, who left early in 2000 following the implementation of land reform.
About 22 resettled farmers from the farm are now clashing with Mr Enock Mudzengerere, who obtained a lease from the Government to maintain, use and pay for the barns in 2021 having operated and maintained the barns since 2010.
The two sides, who expect to start harvesting their crop in two weeks for curing, have locked each other out of the barns and the impasse threatens the quality of their tobacco.
Mr Mudzengerere, a former Tobacco Research Board general manager alleges that the other farmers were threatening to burn his crop.
“I have been operating these barns since 2010 to cure my crop. The community had run down the infrastructure and it has been my duty to maintain the barns. I invested thousands of United States dollars for the repair and maintenance of these barns and as a way of securing my investment, I approached the Government for a lease agreement,” he said.
After acquiring the lease, Mr Mudzengerere locked the 10 barns and employed a guard to secure the facility.
He alleged that the surrounding community and other farmers have been pulling down roofing sheets and other materials that he had put into the barn complex. A boiler for curing the crop was removed from the barns and sold to a buyer, allegedly from Harare.
“They are threatening to burn my crop if I use these barns as they have locked the doors. The same happened last year and I lost three tonnes of tobacco worth over US$15 000,” said Mr Mudzengerere.
But the other farmers have also locked barns denying him access to the infrastructure.
One farmer, Mr Tauya Taizivei, whose 1ha crop of is ready for curing, denied the allegations levelled against them by Mr Mudzengerere.
“Mudzengerere came here asking for assistance with the curing facilities, which we gladly did. He is not part of this farm as he owns a plot in another subdivision. We used to share and operate these barns as local growers before he came and they were intact,” he said.
“Over 20 hectares of our tobacco is under threat as we are banned from using the barns.”
Another farmer, Mr Takesure Chikomo, blamed Mr Mudzengerere for going behind their back and securing the lease.
The Provincial Lands Committee chairperson and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mary Mliswa-Chikoka called on the two parties to work together and resolve their differences amicably.
Online Reporter