Michael Berry Jansen, who owns Xanphippe Farm in the Midlands town of Kwekwe, has been ordered to move out of his property by Obert Mabhena, a serving soldier, who argues that the farm was allocated to him last year.
The latest threat on the commercial farmer, one of the few remaining white farmers in Zimbabwe, comes despite calls by Vice-President Joseph Msika late last year to halt disturbances on former white farms.
Jansen confirmed this week that he had been ordered to vacate the property or face being dragged to court for resisting the take-over of his farm.
“The soldier (Mabhena) has since moved his cattle and goats to my farm saying he has been allocated the land. But I am contesting the take-over,” said Jansen.
Mabhena insisted that he had been allocated the property by the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement.
“I was offered sub-division three of the farm. I am not negotiating a settlement with him. The courts will do their job should he resist the take-over,” said Mabhena.
Lands Minister Didymus Mutasa has insisted that farm seizures will continue until all Zimbabweans who are in need of land are fully satisfied.
In December, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal ruled that a Zimbabwean farmer, William Michael Campbell, should be allowed to stay at his farm in Chegutu pending the final determination of an appeal against the seizure of his farm by the government.
Campbell was challenging the legality of Harare’s land reforms, which he said violated the SADC Treaty.
About 600 white farmers are still on their properties. – ZimOnline
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