Zimbabwe Wild Dogs

Conservation of endangered wild dogs

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Zimbabwe land invasions continue - Conservancy under threat

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Apr 10 2009 | By: zimbabwewilddogs

Hi folks,

Well, this Easter weekend began for us here in the conservancy with the threat of land invasions and having to flee the land.  We are waiting to see what happens.

This is an exerpt from ZW News which I get emailed every day, and seems to be pretty standard news at the moment, with every day producing similar stories.  Seems we may be next… (Chiredzi is our nearest town).

Seven more people have joined the growing list of Zimbabwean commercial farmers facing prosecution for being on their land, as part of the ongoing offensive against farmers that has violently intensified in the last week. The growing list of farmers facing prosecution has now reached 100 and includes the wife of Chiredzi farmer, Gary Warth, who has been in hiding for more than six weeks. His wife Teresa was arrested on Monday in a move that Chiredzi police blatantly admitted was to ‘bait’ her husband out of hiding to face arrest and prosecution. She was later released and is expected in court this week. Five other Chiredzi farmers have also been arrested since late last month and will appear in court next week, on false charges of occupying state land illegally. Meanwhile the violent offensive in Chegutu has not yet eased, with Mount Carmel farm manager Martin Joubert, also being hauled behind bars this week. Joubert joins seven other Mount Carmel farm workers who were arrested over the weekend while trying to defend the land from a gang of lawless thugs.

The land invasions and fast-track prosecution of farmers began in earnest in February, after Attorney General Johannes Tomana instructed local police and magistrates to support the attacks. In all cases, court orders and other legal protections on the farms are being knowingly ignored, and with the police supporting the attacks, farmers have no assistance or protection. It was also known that arrest warrants had been issued for the farmers. Rosemary 

2 Responses to “Zimbabwe land invasions continue - Conservancy under threat”

sheryl, washington, dc, on 10 Apr 2009

I’m a little confused … you might have to flee? From the farmers or the police?

s.

zimbabwewilddogs, on 11 Apr 2009

Hi Sheryl,

Well, we’re just waiting to see what happens actually. So far (and I’m writing on Saturday evening) there has been no trouble although the rumours are still there. I believe it will turn into more of a political game for the conservancy, rather than a physical takeover, but we shall see.

In the meantime we’re just carrying on with our de-snaring efforts and trying to move forward with plans for expanding our environmental education efforts. We certainly arent giving up or planning to leave, and I hope it wont come to being forced out violently. I don’t think it will.

Unfortunately the same cant be said for lots of other farmers who have been forced off their land, threatened and arrested etc.

(The trouble would come from the politicians and war-vets not from the farmers or the police, although the police might well support any invasion rather than taking the farmers side).

Rosemary

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