AT least 30 Zanu PF members sympathetic to the party’s ousted former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa yesterday camped at Mono Agro Farm in Rusape to block any attempts by Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene to take over the property, NewsDay has established.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The farm is currently occupied by Mutasa’s aide, Christine Murembwe.
The Zanu PF members, who included youths and war veterans, said they were jolted to act in Mutasa’s defence after Chimene told a local daily that she had taken over the farm.
The group vowed to block any attempts by Chimene’s supporters to set foot on the farm, and accused her of being a multiple farm owner in the province.
Contacted for comment, Chimene, who however, seemed to have developed cold feet said she was unfazed by the group’s threats. “I don’t know anything about people camping at that farm. I don’t even think that they will come,” she said.
Quizzed over allegations of being a multiple farm owner, Chimene said: “If they want to know about that they should come and ask me.”
One of the youths camped at the farm who requested anonymity, however, dismissed Chimene saying she was just throwing empty threats.
- 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
“We went and camped at the farm at around 10am after we mobilised youths and war veterans who are not happy with what she is doing,” one of the youths said.
“However, at the farm we found that everything was normal. She was just threatening to come over and grab a farm which was dully given to another citizen.”
Another Mutasa supporter added: “As youths we are saying Chimene cannot keep on taking farms while we don’t have as youths. She must not abuse her power because it’s not fair to disadvantage another Zimbabwean on political grounds. After all she has a lot of farms and cannot be the only beneficiary ahead of others.”
Chimene was appointed Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister in December last year and doubles up as provincial lands committee chairperson.
Early this year, Chimene vowed to grab Mutasa’s farm in protest over his disparaging remarks about the land reform programme. Mutasa could not be reached for comment.
