Opinion / Columnist
CIO spy's appetite for Maleme farm still on
12 Dec 2017 at 12:56hrs | Views
Central Intelligence Organization operative Rodney Mashingaidze is alleged to have parcelled out one hundred dollars each to some village heads so that they mobilize villagers stage a demonstration at Maleme in his favour.
The planned demonstration is scheduled for December 13,2017. Maleme is situated in the area of Nathisa, Matopo which is a few kilometres from Bulawayo along Kezi road.
Mashingaidze is purportedly going around telling people that he is planning to come back at Maleme farm which houses Ebenzer Agricultural Training Center and Shalom campsite.
According to one of the pastors who did not want his name mentioned said such sentiments by Mashingaidze were disturbing as the farm has invested over US $2 million in property over the last 18 months.
"Maleme farm supplies day-old chicks for layers and broilers to farmers in the southern region, mainly in both Matebeleland North and South including Bulawayo Metropolitan Maleme has supported and trained thousands of farmers on horticulture," said the pastor.
The pastor went on and said "Maleme has grown over 2million birds with the local communities paying out over R10 million and it has also helped build a local primary school and supports the underprivileged and orphans. Maleme is arguably one of the most productive farms in Western Zimbabwe"
When contacted for comment Mashingaidze's mobile phone was not reachable.
It is rumoured that the recently appointed Minister of Lands and Rural settlement Air Marshal Perence Shiri will be visiting Matebeleland any time this week where he is expected to meet the concerned parties.
Mashingaidze took Maleme farm in 2015 after it had been allocated to him by the then Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlements. This sparked protests by the local community who are benefiting from various agricultural projects funded by the owner, Peter Cunningham.
Chiefs from Matebeleland South that included Chief Nyangazonke, Chief Mathema and the late Chief Masuku were not happy with Mashingaidze to take over. The chiefs took the matter up with the government and the farm was returned to Cunningham with Mashingaidze being allocated elsewhere. The late chief Malaki Masuku even said the allocation of Maleme farm to Mashingidze was done behind his back as he was not invited to the meeting as a member of the lands committee.
Maleme farm was divided into three farms during the land redistribution exercise in the 2000s and the two farms that were apportioned to new farmers are not being utilized.
The planned demonstration is scheduled for December 13,2017. Maleme is situated in the area of Nathisa, Matopo which is a few kilometres from Bulawayo along Kezi road.
Mashingaidze is purportedly going around telling people that he is planning to come back at Maleme farm which houses Ebenzer Agricultural Training Center and Shalom campsite.
According to one of the pastors who did not want his name mentioned said such sentiments by Mashingaidze were disturbing as the farm has invested over US $2 million in property over the last 18 months.
"Maleme farm supplies day-old chicks for layers and broilers to farmers in the southern region, mainly in both Matebeleland North and South including Bulawayo Metropolitan Maleme has supported and trained thousands of farmers on horticulture," said the pastor.
The pastor went on and said "Maleme has grown over 2million birds with the local communities paying out over R10 million and it has also helped build a local primary school and supports the underprivileged and orphans. Maleme is arguably one of the most productive farms in Western Zimbabwe"
When contacted for comment Mashingaidze's mobile phone was not reachable.
It is rumoured that the recently appointed Minister of Lands and Rural settlement Air Marshal Perence Shiri will be visiting Matebeleland any time this week where he is expected to meet the concerned parties.
Mashingaidze took Maleme farm in 2015 after it had been allocated to him by the then Ministry of Lands and Rural Settlements. This sparked protests by the local community who are benefiting from various agricultural projects funded by the owner, Peter Cunningham.
Chiefs from Matebeleland South that included Chief Nyangazonke, Chief Mathema and the late Chief Masuku were not happy with Mashingaidze to take over. The chiefs took the matter up with the government and the farm was returned to Cunningham with Mashingaidze being allocated elsewhere. The late chief Malaki Masuku even said the allocation of Maleme farm to Mashingidze was done behind his back as he was not invited to the meeting as a member of the lands committee.
Maleme farm was divided into three farms during the land redistribution exercise in the 2000s and the two farms that were apportioned to new farmers are not being utilized.
Source - Benson Mume
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
