The following year I was assigned, together with other armed soldiers in civilian clothes, to forcibly evict white commercial farmers from the land by whatever means.
We were addressed by the Army Commander, then Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga, and Brigadier General Administration, then Douglas Nyikayaramba, at Army Headquarters. They described events leading to the armed struggle for Zimbabwe. White occupation on fertile land at the expense of Black Zimbabweans was cited as the motive behind the liberation struggle. We were made to believe a bloody and brutal land grab was the only way forward as white settlers would resist voluntarily handing land back to blacks.
Selected soldiers were given an option to occupy farms in their district of origin. They were promised logistical backup from Army HQ Operations and any nearby army establishments. The operation was well coordinated between army, police, war veterans, prison services, CIO and other government departments. It was a free for all.
Instructed to invade
Though I had chosen to occupy any farm in Macheke area as I hailed from Nyazema Township, together with other armed forces I was instructed to invade Chipesa Farm near Marondera and force the white occupant (now MDC-T Member of Parliament, Ian Kay) off his land. After successfully kicking Kay off the farm, I was asked to relocate to Virginia Farm as an A2 farmer.
We filled application forms for land at army headquarters. Applications were processed through the Army Administration Branch headed by Nyikayaramba. Every soldier would be allocated land in his area of preference. Ministry of lands would take instructions from headquarters regarding land issues affecting soldiers.
Senior army officers would occupy farm houses while juniors were allocated between six and 20 hectare plots under A1 and A2 schemes respectively. We occupied land without houses or farming equipment. All farm equipment was grabbed by senior officers, who also allocated themselves land measuring more than 1 000 hectares each. Land allocation for junior officers and ordinary Zanu (PF) supporters seemed mere window dressing and token reward for evicting white farmers off the land on behalf of Mugabes inner circle.
Menial jobs
Bosses forced former farm workers to retain their skills at the farms for a negotiated reward in cash or kind. Most workers fled the farms and as soldiers, we were regularly ordered to do menial jobs at senior officers fields at the expense of our jungle plots. Fortunate junior soldiers were allocated plots in cleared fields while the unfortunate were settled in forests. We had to cut down trees to clear land for houses and fields.
Since 2000, I have not established myself due to lack of resources. While top government officials and senior military officers received huge quantities of farm inputs and mechanized equipment, juniors were given inadequate supplies of inputs under the Maguta Project. In most cases inputs came late. Since our currency had lost value, we sold some inputs such as fuel, seed and fertilizer at the black market to buy food.
My life resembles that of a communal farmer. I have placed hope in Minister Bitis proposal for title deeds, which would enable us acquire bank loans. Equipped with necessary resources and expertise, I remain optimistic that we can turn into productive farmers. Though new farmers benefited from expertise provided by Agriculture and Extension Officers (AREX), not much was achieved due to non-availability of resources.
My dream
However, services of highly skilled and better equipped AREX officers remain the preserve only of senior government officials and Zanu (PF) bigwigs. Prospering new farmers are mainly the well-connected who grabbed farms with ripe crops and warehouses stocked with inputs. They looted equipment and got the lions share of inputs.
I am glad that at least I own my on land. Last year I harvested 600kg of maize, compared to only 200 kg in most years since 2000. The harvest fell short of what my extended family would need for the year. My dream is to produce more than 20 tons every year and help feed the nation I believe this is possible if I could get inputs.
I cannot afford to employ any workers. My wife and two grown children assist me and I have two beasts from my uncle for drought power. Fields were still in a virgin state and the cattle struggled to work the land. Unfortunately mechanized equipment availed by the Reserve Bank only benefited top Zanu (PF) members and senior military officers. Permanent housing has proved difficult to construct so I only managed three pole and dagga huts.
Water drawn from a borehole is used on my struggling vegetable project. My wife sells tomatoes and cabbages at market. The project has sustained the family though not enough to take the children to good schools. Profits are gobbled by transport since we hire private vehicles to take produce to market. My life is no better than peasant farmers. If top politicians and senior government employees who looted former white farmers equipment could avail it to us during land preparation stages, our lot would be improved.
Postscript: Nherudzo thanked his military occupation which he said enabled him to secure land as farms were only allocated to senior Zanu (PF) members, armed forces and partisan government workers. He declared unwavering support for President Robert Mugabe, but was having second thoughts since MDC-T proposed title deeds for land holders. He said 60 percent of redistributed land was allocated to police and military officers, Mugabes lifeline.
Junior soldiers continue to work as general hands and drivers at farms occupied by senior army officers. Army trucks and other government vehicles are used at private farms at the expense of government business.
Post published in: Opinions