Zimbabwean white farmer's stay on prize farm sparks fresh dispute

THE Minister of Rural Development, Preservation of Culture and Heritage, Abedinico Ncube and Chief Nyangazonke have clashed over the presence of Peter Cunningham, a white commercial farmer, at the disputed Maleme Farm in Matobo district.

Cunningham has been locked in a protracted legal wrangle with senior state intelligence officer Rodney Mashingaidze over the control of Maleme Farm, which also houses Big Cave Camp and Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre.

Mashingaidze took over the farm which was allocated to him by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement last year in February, sparking protests from the local community benefiting from various agricultural projects funded by Cunningham.

Ncube, who was speaking during the burial of Chief Masuku at his homestead in Nathisa village in Matobo yesterday, described Cunningham as a "slave master" who is exploiting the local black community on the pretext that he was assisting them with agricultural projects.

"The land belongs to the black people. It doesn't belong to the whites although, of course, as the government we're saying it has to be shared, but the bigger portion should belong to the blacks," he said. The Minister said Cunningham was simply hiding behind "non-existent" projects which were not benefiting the local community.

"We can't have a situation where blacks are deprived of their land while a few whites are still occupying vast tracts of land. For instance, here in Matobo district, we've Maleme Farm where we're told that there's an agricultural college and projects. In fact, there's actually nothing like that and the only agricultural college I know of in Matabeleland South is the one in Esigodini," said Ncube.

"There's an assumption that the local community is being assisted to breed chickens among other projects by a white farmer, but they aren't making any profits at all as their revenues can't exceed the break-even point and that's black slavery," said the minister.

Ncube said Cunningham should only be allowed to retain a small portion of land. "We're not saying the white farmer should lose the entire farm but he should remain with a small portion of land so that the landless blacks who are a majority benefit under the land reform programme," he said.

Chief Nyangazonke, who was also part of the mourners gathered at Chief Masuku's homestead, said the local community was benefiting from the agricultural projects.

"The local community approached us as their chiefs over the issue and I'm glad they're actually benefiting from the agricultural projects at Maleme Farm since the area is dry and we've no problems with Cunningham assisting our people," he said. Nyangazonke together with Chief Mathema and the late Masuku joined a determined lobby of villagers who campaigned against the farm take-over.

They said the farm was benefiting at least 800 families, with Cunningham being credited for assisting villagers with various projects, including raising chickens and teaching them modern farming methods.

The farm dispute cooled down following last year's intervention by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko when he ordered Mashingaidze to vacate the property which he had occupied. VP Mphoko subsequently directed the Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlement to identify another farm for Mashingaidze.