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NewsDay

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Bleak future for Kintyre farm workers

News
HUNDREDS of former farm workers at Kintyre Estates near Norton are bracing for a showdown with the new land owners who have threatened to evict them to pave way for development of residential properties.

HUNDREDS of former farm workers at Kintyre Estates near Norton are bracing for a showdown with the new land owners who have threatened to evict them to pave way for development of residential properties.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

The workers have, however, vowed to stay put until government and the new owners – Aberfoyle Holdings — have identified an alternative piece of land to resettle them.

Edson Ganizani, secretary of a committee representing the workers, said: “We have spent our lives here and our fathers and forefathers were born here. We will not move unless alternative land is found for us. The owners of this land promised to keep us here when they took over and now they are turning on us.”

farmers

A representative of Aberfoyle Holdings, the majority shareholders in Kintyre Estates, Walter Marevanhema, who initially claimed to be James Chivaviro when NewsDay called, confirmed the row.

“We own the property and have a sub-division permit for the land. We have met the former farm workers to apprise them of our wish to develop the area. But we have not issued any notice of eviction. We will advise them of any development and accord them enough time to relocate,” Marevanhema said.

He also pledged to assist the affected families with relocation, but emphasised that “we have no contractual agreement with the farmworkers”.

However, two hours after answering questions and having requested for a meeting, Marevanhema (aka Chivaviro) changed tack and asked for written questions.

“The person you talked to first is not Chivaviro, his name is Walter Marevanhema. I am Bobby Chivaviro and the owner of the land, send your questions in writing because I want authenticity,” a different male voice on the phone said.

The duo then promised to “be in touch”, but had not done so by the time of going to print.

At its peak just after Independence in 1980, Kintyre Estates was a leading dairy producer, supplying up to 100 000 litres of milk per month, and was among the country’s leading wheat and soyabean producers.