This is despite the fact that the farm is protected by the SADC tribunal judgement delivered in Windhoek, Namibia, on 28 November 2008.
Senator Madzongwe sent the local Chegutu lands officer (Kunonga) to inform the Etheredges yesterday (Sunday).
The Etheredges also have a High Court order from October 2007 that protects them, as well as a second High Court case making Senator Madzongwe accountable for her actions in June 2008 when she evicted them with the assistance of Gilbert Moyo.
During the eviction, the Etheredges’ houses and workshops were completely looted and two members of the family were beaten in the presence of members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Moyo is a notorious ‘war veteran" who operates from a militia base camp at the Pickstone mine in the Chegutu district. He is the beneficiary of Masterpiece Farm, formerly occupied by Dave Ullyett, and has spearheaded many of the atrocities in the area.
He has also been charged with robbery according to the Criminal Law Codification Reform Act (8 counts up to July 28, 2008).
Moyo’s main accomplice in this spree of violence and looting was Simberashe Zindoga who is currently out on bail.
The Etheredge property has three farm houses and a 55 000-tree orange orchard that generates US$4 million a year in exports. It was purchased by the father of Richard Etheredge (72) and has been in the family since 1926.
Ben Freeth of Mount Carmel farm (Chegutu), who together with his father-in-law, Mike Campbell, were the first farmers to take their case to the SADC tribunal, says this action further demonstrates Zanu PF’s contempt both for SADC and Zimbabwe’s highest court.