Tensions are escalating at Makovani Estates in Insiza Valley following an unannounced visit by Land Inspectorate officials accompanied by individuals claiming to be the property’s new owners, the latest in a series of incidents that have left staff fearing an invasion.
The farm, located in Fort Rixon, Matabeleland South, is owned by Harold Schur, who said his property is under threat from a “well-known troublemaker and bogus A2 individual.”
“It was allocated to my family 23 years ago by agreement with the Ministry of Lands,” Schur said.
According to an incident report filed by estate manager Richard Kreidl on August 6, the officials arrived at =the Makovani Homestead at about 3:30pm on Tuesday in a convoy of two vehicles accompanied by seven men.
The group arrived without notice while assistant manager Francois Malherbe’s wife was alone at the homestead.
Kreidl said the officials began looking around the property without authorisation, leaving Malherbe feeling intimidated.
Kreidl rushed to the scene and found one Gibson Siziba, four Land Inspectorate officers and two other men at the property.
Siziba introduced the two men as the “new landowners” of Makovani Estates.
The officials then requested a private meeting with Kreidl and questioned him about his identity, crops being grown, and the contact details of the estate’s owner and manager.
They cited “underlying issues” but refused to disclose what those were.
Kreidl cooperated and provided the requested information, with no confrontation occurring before the group departed.
The visit marks the third such incident involving Siziba and associates.
Kreidl’s report states similar occurrences in 2025, when the group accessed the staff village in management’s absence and interrogated employees about farm equipment and operations.
Kreidl said the repeated incidents have created an intimidating environment, prompting some staff members to resign.
Estate management is now seeking formal clarification from the ministry of Lands and the Land Inspectorate regarding the purpose of the latest inspection, the alleged “underlying issues,” and confirmation of the status of individuals introduced as “new landowners.”
Management also intends to raise concerns about unauthorised access to the property and the impact of repeated visits on staff welfare.
However, Kreidl told this reporter on Monday that the situation had since calmed after authorities intervened.
“There has been no incident since then. It has gone quiet after it was discovered that there was a bogus attempt to take over the farm and it became clear that it belongs to Schur,” he said.
“The land commissioner from Filabusi came here and established that the farm belongs to Schur and efforts were bogus attempts to take it away from him.”
Insiza district development coordinator Zibusiso Maphosa did not respond to questions sent to him on Tuesday.