Police, Prison officers invade Beitbridge conservancy

A group of police and prison officers have reportedly invaded a conservancy farm in Beitbridge claiming the district land officer allocated them the safari complex to convert into a village.

Director of the conservancy farm, Po Ferguson said the group arrived at the property on Sunday.

"On Sunday the 30th March a large number of people arrived on the property apparently made up of Police and Prison Officers and others who were given Offer Letters to replace the so called recipients who had declined to take their so called plots," Fegurson said.

 "The group was led by one Eliphias Siziba (who is the Provincial Officer for the Ministry Youth Development Gender & Employment Creation in Gwanda) and one Obias Ndou who is a prolific thief who has stolen thousands of dollars' worth of company equipment over the years."

Ferguson said the invaders raided the cold room and looted the meat inside.

 "They apparently held a meeting in the Cold-room complex and Obias Ndou tried to incite the people to beat up our staff but fortunately the group took no notice of him. This Eliphias Siziba told our staff to vacate their quarters as they wanted them to accommodate their workers but our staff have stayed put.

 "Apparently the Lands Officer is issuing new Offer letters left right and centre which is contrary to what I have been told which is that a decision had been taken at the highest level that no further Offer Letters would be issued and only the Minister of Agriculture was authorised to do so in special circumstances."