State prosecutor Bornwell Balamanje said Ranganai Mahwindo (55), brothers Silas Mudzingwa (65) and Zivepi (35), Albert Chinembiri (33) and Dennis Zvemoyo (65) used violence to illegally occupy Bushy Park Farm belonging to Chester Valentine Purcell Gilpin.
They confiscated the firearm of the security personnel and forcibly drove out farm caretaker Locadia Muchona. Since then, the farm owner has failed to get access to his property.
Magistrate Siphatekile Msipa cast a deaf ear to a plea by Zvemoyo that the case be treated differently because it was political. Zvemoyo had argued that they had occupied the farm in line with Zanu (PF)’s policy on land reform so their conduct was not criminal but political.
“The courts are not discriminatory and a person faces the justice system irrespective of their political affiliations,” said the magistrate before sentencing the accused to one year in prison each.
The development is set to scare away like-minded offenders in the province who illegally settled on farms owned by progressive commercial farmers since 2000. The invasions marked the beginning of the collapse of the formerly vibrant agricultural industry.
Post published in: News