Zanu-PF MP connive with a white farmer

Blessed Runesu, Zanu-PF legislator for Sanyati is reported to have connived with a white farmer, Mr Antony Livaditakis, to block the Government from taking over the latter's farm after it had been gazetted for re-distribution. Documents at hand show that Runesu could have entered the deal with Mr Livaditakis by offering protection to make sure that 19,4862 hectares at Gillingham or Pama Farm would not be acquired.

According to state media, government acquired Pama Farm under General Notice 34 of 2016 on February 19, 2016, filed by Lands and Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora.

After the farm was gazetted on February 19, 2016, it is alleged that Runesu and Mr Livaditakis then came up with an agreement of sale backdated February 1, 2016.

According to the agreement of sale, Runesu was to pay US$1,2 million to buy the farm. The Zanu-PF MP is said to have agreed to pay the first instalment of US$250 000 on or before March 31, 2016; another US$250 000 by May 30, 2016; US$500 000 by July 31, 2016; and the fourth instalment of US$200 000 two months after the July 2016 payment.

Runesu insisted that he bought the farm, although he could not furnish proof of payment for the US$1,2 million transactions.

The Sanyati legislator is running Pama Abbatoir, which is part of Pama Farm, but the land still belongs to Mr Livaditakis.
"I was already at the farm when it was gazetted by the Government. I bought the land," he said.

However, in a High Court case number 1877/16, Mr Livaditakis wrote that he was still in charge of Pama Holdings which owns the gazetted Pama Farm. This was on March 14, 2016 - more than a month after Runesu is said to have bought the farm.

Mr Livaditakis said that he still owns Pama Farm, saying Government was going to reverse the farm acquisition.