MUTARE - In Manicaland, the District of Mutare North, Paul Grobler who owns Geluk A, measuring 776.849 ha, faces the same fate as McKersie. His farm operations include 42ha of tobacco and 30ha under maize.Like McKersie, Grobler willingly subdivided 376.849ha for A1 resettlement and retained 400ha in 2001. The beneficiaries of the subdivision were a Collin Mugayi- 168ha, a G Mambara -141.5 ha, and a Chief Magistrate H Mawayera 90.55 ha.
Mugayi is alleged to have already occupied an A2 plot at Alma farm in Odzi and Mambara has A2 plot no 47 at Tiverton Farm Nyazura. Mugayi works in the DA’s office in Mutare. Grobler’s farm was never gazetted for compulsory acquisition.
He was first summoned to court on 12 February 2009, was remanded 9 times before trial. When trial started on 19 June 2009, Grobler was remanded to 26 June 2009. The case is on going.
In Manicaland, Makoni district another farmer, Raymond Finaughty of Harland Brothers P/L, farming on Manda Estates A, has also been in court a number of times. The farm is wanted by a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) worker Winnie Mushipe.
Finaughty first appeared in court in November 2007, was remanded six times before the case was dismissed in August 2008. Fresh charges were preferred on 7 May this year. He has since then appeared frequently in court.
Finaughty is one of the farmers that approached the Southern African Development Community (SADC) tribunal seeking redress for farms compulsorily acquired by the government.
The beneficiary, Mushipe, has attempted to have Finaughty evicted in both the magistrates court and in the High Court, where presiding judge Felistas Chatukuta reserved judgment in the matter on 17 June.
Post published in: Politics