War vets protest farm seizure

Former Zipra fighters yesterday waded into the Figtree farm dispute pitting commercial farmer David Connolly and deputy chief secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ray Ndhlukula after staging a demonstration against the top civil servant.

Ndhlukula early this month reportedly moved his property and workers to Connolly's Centenary Farm, about 30km from Bulawayo, despite a High Court order barring him from interfering with operations at the property.

The Zipra Veterans' Trust said Connolly was one of the farmers who contributed to the liberation struggle and vowed to stand by him.

War veterans numbering about 40 descended on the farm and led Connolly's workers in the peaceful protest.

Zipra Veterans' Trust security chief Patrick Msongelwa Dube said the fresh farm invasions, particularly in Matabeleland, could brew conflict that would be difficult to contain.

Dube said the invasion of Conolly's farm was a litmus test to surviving-PF Zapu leaders as it came soon after the short-lived occupation of former Home Affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa's Rudy Farm in Nyamandlovu by Zanu-PF activists.