CHINHOYI — Chief Nemakonde and white commercial farmer Douglas Taylor-Flame are embroiled in a protracted fight over Pondoro Farm in Lion’s Den, with the traditional leader claiming he was allocated the property in 2007 under the controversial agrarian reform programme.
Chief Nemakonde, born Milson Nemakonde, said despite possession of an offer letter from the Ministry of Lands, Taylor-Flame had refused to vacate the gazetted 755-hectare farm.
The chief accused Taylor-Flame of being an “unrepentant racist” who had since allocation of the farm disrupted his agricultural activities.
“Since I was allocated the farm in 2007, my efforts to move onto the land have received stiff resistance from Taylor-Flame who has shown disinterest to co-exist.
“Taylor-Flame has over the years disrupted my farming activities at the farm.
“Last year he brought in a tractor and tilled land on which I had planted seed,” said the 82-year-old Chief Nemakonde.
A recipient of farming inputs under the Presidential Well-wishers Inputs Scheme last week, Chief Nemakonde lamented that the land dispute would hamper productivity at Pondoro Farm.
“This cropping season, as has become the norm, I would have to ask for land from well-wishers at neighbouring farms or hire from those who have large tracts that they would not be able to fully utilise,” he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He said Mashonaland West Governor Faber Chidarikire was aware of the land dispute.
Efforts to get comment from Chidarikire and Taylor-Flame were fruitless. Taylor-Flame is one of the 223 former commercial farmers countrywide who have contested the compulsory acquisition of their properties.
