Protest against British citizen seizure of Zimbabwe farm

The ROHR Zimbabwe (Restoration of Human Rights) in the United Kingdom has urged vigil supporters to join hands in protesting against Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica for trying to seize a farm in Zimbabwe.

"Please join us for a protest against Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica. Dr Nyatsuro is a British citizen who has lived here for the past 12 years but is trying to seize a farm in Zimbabwe on the basis of his relationship to Grace Mugabe. (see below for reasons for the demo): Date and time: Tuesday 27th October from 12 noon - 3 pm," said the organisation. "Venue: The Willows Medical Centre, Church Street, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 1BJ."

The organisation said those interested to participate must Contact: Chamunorwa Chisuko 07832920609, Enniah Dube 07403439707, Rose Benton 07970996003.

"The Zimbabwe Vigil has called on the British authorities to take action against a UK doctor who is attempting to seize a farm in Zimbabwe," said the organisation. "It is the latest incident in which Zimbabwean exiles given refuge in the UK have revealed the hypocrisy evidenced in the growth of Zanu PF activities in Britain. Here is a letter we are sending to the Nottingham North and East Clinical Commissioning Group of the National Health Service: We wish to inform you of the lawless attempt being made by a Nottingham GP to seize a farm in Zimbabwe."

The organisation said Sylvester Nyatsuro of the Willows Medical Centre in Church Street, Carlton, and his wife Veronica, apparently the practice manager, visited the farm near Harare last month and ordered out the owner Philip Rankin. Dr Nyatsuro claimed that the Zimbabwean authorities had told him he could have the farm, even though he had been resident in England for thepast 13 years.

 Nyatsuro is reported to be related to President Mugabe's wife Grace.

Rankin has since then been besieged in his farmhouse, threatening the ruin of his tobacco crop worth up to £240,000.

"He obtained a High Court order on 12th October banning the invaders from the property but the following day Mrs Nyatsuro was back with a busload of reinforcements, in defiance of the High Court.Mr Rankin bought the farm after Independence with the consent of the Mugabe authorities but since then they have encouraged the takeover of white-owned farms without compensation," sai9d the orgabnisation. "This has led to the collapse of agriculture and growing poverty. The UK and the US have recently pledged £30 million in new food relief but this will still leave widespreadhunger. The Zimbabwe Vigil urges the Commissioning Group to investigate this matter and take appropriate action. We understand that Dr Nyatsuro came to the UK in 2003 when the farm seizures were at their height and has become a British citizen. We are sending copies of this to the General Medical Council and the Department of Health as well as the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

The organisation claimed that a  letter about  Nyatsuro was approved at a meeting of the Zimbabwe Action Forum held after the Vigil.

It said speakers expressed disgust at his hypocrisy and wondered what his patients thought of his racism.

"It was decided that we would give them a chance to have their say by holding a demonstration at his clinic. One suggestion was that the doctor should be asked what his attitude would be if his clinic was seized by an ‘indigenous' British person connected to the governing Conservative party at a day's notice without compensation (he would be allowed to take his stethoscope away with him)" said the organisation.