The farm was seized on 28 October.
On the day, Muringani went to Maramba’s farm with two oxen yoked to a plough, where he found Maramba’s children farming and he started ploughing the other side of the farm. He had previously gone to the same farm five days before the invasion where he threatened Maramba’s family with death if they did not stop farming.
Maramba reported the matter to Nyazura police station but the officer in charge refused to accept the report and referred him to the District Administrator claiming that the DA was the one responsible for land disputes and police would only intervene when there is assault.
Before the invasion last week, Maramba was on 18 August shocked when Chief Makoni fined him for absconding his court when he had not received any summons that had to appear before the chief.
Chief Makoni subsequently sent his representatives who seized a tractor, a wardrobe and a bed form Maramba as punishment for defaulting the chief’s court.
He again reported the case to Nyazura police station and the officer in charge refused to take action. Maramba is yet to recover his property and to know what charges he is facing. Hon. Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC Manicaland Information and Publicity provincial secretary strongly condemned abuse of human rights and said Zanu PF should desist from invading people’s properties simply because they do not subscribe to Zanu PF’s scorched earth policies.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo has blocked the installation of Tapfumaneyi Mandizvidza as a headman in Chikomba district because he is an MDC elected councillor.
According to the lineage in Mandizvidza clan, Tapfumanei was supposed to be throned as the next headman but Chombo blocked the move and installed one Mhurushomana, a Zanu PF activist. This has not gone down well with the people of Chikomba as Mhurushomana has turned to be partisan for he is denying villagers access to the government grain loan scheme claiming that they are non Zanu PF members.
Councillor Mandizvidza said he lodged a complaint with the district administrator and Chief Mutekedza but the duo only promised to look into the issue. – The MDC Today – Issue 461
Post published in: News