By Regerai Marwezu 

MASVINGO – Masvingo provincial governor, Willard Chiwewe, at the weekend evicted a white commercial farmer in Chiredzi district in southern Masvingo province as fresh farm invasions sweep across the country. 

Chiwewe, who chairs a government land allocation committee in the province, stormed Senuko Farm last Friday in the company of armed soldiers and forcibly evicted John Alfford from his 40 hectare piece of land. 

The resident minister also seized farm equipment at the property that used to produce over 1 500 litres of milk per month in addition to fresh fruit, vegetable seeds and sugar cane. 

A former farm worker at the property on Monday told ZimOnline that Chiwewe had also threatened to have the Alffords arrested if they defied the order to vacate the property. 

“We were surprised to see a group of armed soldiers invading the farm,” said Onias Chimba, a former worker at the farm.  

“We were given just hours to leave the property by the soldiers and we had to comply since the governor also threatened to have us arrested.” 

Chiwewe confirmed taking over the farm adding that the Masvingo provincial land committee had since allocated the property to his daughter whose name and age could not be immediately verified. 

“We had to seek the assistance of soldiers because some of these white commercial farmers have become dangerous,” said Chiwewe without elaborating. 

“We gave the Alffords enough time to leave but they did not listen hence we had to behave in the manner that we did. My daughter has since taken over after the land allocation committee gave her the property,” said Chiwewe. 

President Robert Mugabe’s government has since the beginning of this month intensified a drive to expel white farmers following the expiry of a 30 September deadline to do so. 

At least 10 white farmers have already been dragged to the courts while several others have been threatened with arrest for defying the directive to vacate their properties. 

Zimbabwe has grappled with severe food shortages over the past seven years after President Robert Mugabe began seizing white land for redistribution to landless blacks seven years ago. 

The farm occupations slashed food production by 60 percent resulting in most Zimbabweans requiring food handouts from international relief agencies. 

Less than 600 white commercial farmers remain in Zimbabwe after the government began seizing land from white farmers, then numbering about 4 000, for redistribution to landless blacks seven years ago. - ZimOnline