BEITBRIDGE - Co-Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi is believed to be involved in the invasion of a South African-owned game farm in Beitbridge, in a move that critics say could threaten trade relations between the two countries. (Pictured: Kembo Mohadi - Sus
Eight men invaded a lodge on Benlynian Game Ranch, which lies just 46 km from the South African border, last Wednesday and ordered the owners to vacate the property. The ranch owner is said to have fled the farm for his own safety, but his son has been trying to persuade police to stop the invaders taking over, apparently without success. Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President Deon Theron told SW Radio Africa last week that Mohadi, who has control of the police, is suspected to be involved in the invasion. Theron said that he was unable to confirm these suspicions but he did express concern about the ministers possible involvement, saying: If this is true, then its a very sad state of affairs.
The game farm is a popular destination for conservationists, overseas tourists and South African visitors, generating valuable foreign currency for Zimbabwe. But for months the owners and their employees have been subjected to ongoing harassment by the police and the National Land Inspectorate Theron said that the land invasion is the first contravention of the newly ratified bilateral investment protection agreement (BIPPA), signed by Zimbabwe and South Africa last year. The pact is meant to protect South African owned investments, including land, and was lauded as key to unlocking millions of rands worth of investment from Zimbabwes more prosperous southern neighbour.
It is also extremely unfortunate that this is taking place at a stage when South African President Jacob Zuma is engaging with our transitional government to find a peaceful way forward for the country, said Theron. Mugabes controversial land reforms that he says were necessary to correct a colonial land ownership system that reserved the best land for whites and banished blacks to poor soils, are blamed for plunging Zimbabwe into food shortages after he failed to support black villagers resettled on former white farms with inputs to maintain production. In addition critics say Mugabes cronies and not ordinary peasants benefited the most from farm seizures with some of them ending up with as many as six farms each against the governments stated one-man-one-farm policy.
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