'Arrest Zanu-PF farm invaders,' says Obert Mpofu

Umguza legislator Obert Mpofu on Friday castigated scores of people who have "invaded" a farm in his constituency and pegged stands for themselves, saying the move is illegal and that the invaders should be arrested.

The invaders reportedly moved into Denver Farm - about 20 kilometres outside Bulawayo in Nyamandlovu - almost a week ago and allocated themselves stands which they were now clearing.

Officially opening Lozikeyi Clinic in the Majindani Resettlement Area in Umguza, Mpofu, who is also Transport and Infrastructural Development minister, said the farm invasion was done by people masquerading as members of the ruling party, Zanu PF when, infact, they were criminal elements.

"Land is important and in your case, you were resettled properly during the land reform exercise," he said.

"But there are others who are coming from Bulawayo looking for land, and putting on Zanu PF regalia, purporting to be members of our party.  If you want land, follow the proper channels.  There is a land committee which handles requests for land. The police should arrest those farm invaders because what they are doing is illegal."

Mpofu said most of those who were now allocating themselves land were, in-fact, against the land reform process that was started in 2000.

"There is no jambanja (chaos) now," he said, amid thunderous applause from the audience.

"When we were out in China, busy negotiating deals for economic development, some people back home were busy allocating themselves land.  Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and should remain peaceful.  We don't want to have lawlessness like what we just saw in Lesotho where there was an attempt to stage a coup, or in Nigeria where Boko Haram kidnapped girls."

He said government would not tolerate lawlessness.

"We are saying no to farm invasions," he said.

"Those engaging in these invasions merely want to tarnish the country's image, and that of the ruling party."

By yesterday evening, the invaders had disappeared with some of them abandoning their vehicle near Denver Farm after getting wind that police would come and flush them out.

A group of armed police officers could be seen near the abandoned vehicle.

Commenting on the newly commissioned clinic, Mpofu said it was time the country concentrated on development programmes like the setting up of infrastructure such as clinics in resettlement areas, and not to engage in land invasions.

"I am proud of what has happened here," he said.

"This is a modern clinic.  Some councillor at one time had turned this farm house, which has since been developed into a clinic, into a kraal for his calves.  That is not what we call land reform. We will continue to support such development initiatives."

The minister and his wife, who is Senator for Bubi-Umguza, Sikhanyisiwe, previously donated an ambulance to the constituency.

On Friday they donated beds and some medical consumables for the clinic, which was developed into a health facility by the Umguza Rural District Council at a cost of $50 000.