Reeling from the blows from baton sticks, she realised that her clothes were restraining her from escaping, so she took them off and, clad only in her undergarments, ran for dear life.
Zvinongoza Dube is a member of the Chinyamukwakwa and Chisumbanje communities in Chipinge that are embroiled in a fierce land conflict with the Green Fuel Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant. She was working on the land whose ownership is under dispute.
“I had no choice but to take of my clothes because that is the only way I could escape. I had to forget about my dignity because my life is more precious than my dignity,” Zvinongoza Dube said, stammering and trembling in anger, as she recounted her story in front of the Chisumbanje Police Station Officer in Charge, Chief Inspector Noah Nyamuzinga, at a community meeting.
The highly emotive meeting was organised by the Platform for Youth Development Trust to help ease the tension between villagers and the police and the company.
“She was only able to escape because she was naked. Such behaviour by the police is unacceptable. Since this whole issue started in 2009 one of the most emotive issues has been the involvement of the police,” said PYD Director, Claris Madhuku.
The villagers, many of whom suffered serious injuries, believe the police are on Green Fuel’s pay roll. “The company even supplies the vehicles that the police use on their raids,” said Phineas Muyambo from Chinyamukwa-kwa.
But Nyamuzinga denied any knowledge of corrupt activities by his officers involving Green Fuel. Madhuku insists that there are eyewitness accounts of such goings-on. “If you know of any corrupt activities you should report them to my office,” Nyamuzinga told the villagers.
“The biggest problem is that of perception. The people are afraid of the police and the police are afraid of the people. If anyone has a problem they must come straight to my office,” he said, trying to reassure the people.
But these assurances did not seem to have any impact on the people. “I was beaten up because when the police arrived I did not run like other people because I believed in the assurances we had been given in the past,” said Samson Mugovera, another victim.
Vaina Ndhlovu was detained in police cells with an untreated broken leg together with her son Prince Mabode, aged 2. “We only managed to go to the hospital after three days and this was only after the intervention of the court,” she said in an interview together with her husband at their home.
Her husband, Never Muyambo Chibode, is heartbroken by the way his wife was treated. “I feel great pain because of what the police did to my wife. She tried to flee but they had to chase her for a long distance. It hurts to see a woman treated that way. “If I knew any kind of witchcraft I would use it against them,” he said, his voice choking with emotion. “We don’t have the financial resources to pursue our case against the police. It’s too expensive and time consuming as well,” he says with resignation.
Madhuku said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights were preparing to launch cases on behalf of the villagers against individual police officers. “We believe that some of them worked in their individual capacities in cahoots with company officials to torment villagers,” he said.
Mugovera remained very bitter and vowed to resist any conciliatory moves from the police and the company because he does not think they are sincere. “The land is ours. They use the police against us. Every year they keep encroaching on our land. We have no relationship with the police. How can we have a relationship with people who are always harassing and beating us,” he said.
Maxwell Mtisi’s medical record also points to assault by the police. “Right leg now painful and swollen. On examination swollen tibia noted laceration with blood,” the records from Chinyamukwakwa Clinic say.
Green Fuel spokesman Raphael Zuze said he could not comment because he was on leave. Madhuku accuses the government of letting the people down. “The government has not done enough to clarify the boundary,” he says.
According to a report by the Portfolio Committee On Youth, Indigenisation And Economic Empowerment on the Green Fuel ethanol project in early 2008, Green Fuel represented by Macdom Investments, acquired the right to lease land measuring 5,112 hectares from ARDA. The land has since increased to 9 375 ha and is under sugarcane.
“It is sad to note that the state has not shown any urgency to bring to order the evident dis-empowered of the people of Chisumbanje, but has shown more concern to support the business side of the Ethanol Project,” the report presented to parliament by committee chairman, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, reads. The portfolio committee recommended that ARDA Board Chairman Basil Nyabadza should clarify the issue of land ownership.
Post published in: News