Chinotimba farm grab threatens $300k produce

Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba's son has not occupied the section of the farm that he was allocated by government and instead went for an adjacent one not covered in the offer letter, according to information obtained yesterday.

Chinotimba's son Edwin was allocated a section for the remainder of Strepie of Hofstede farm measuring 164,65 hectares.

That part of the farm, together with Chihosa of Subdivision A of Excelsior of Hofstede measuring 267,66 hectares, are the two sections of Chihosa Estate trading as CAG Plantation that is owned by the family of former Metallon executive, CollenGura.

The farm was acquired in 2006 through a deed of sale that required the former owner to remain on the farm until 2011. Full payment for the farm was completed in September last year.

Instead of going for the area he had been allocated, which is the Strepie section, Edwin — allegedly with the help of his father — has taken over the Chihosa section where there is 60 hectares of macadamia nuts, 10 hectares avocado pears and 100 hectares of grafted seedlings.

The duo is alleged to have blocked employees from spraying the macadamia nuts plantation as per programme to kill sting bugs. The nuts are due for harvesting in March amid fears they will be affected by the sting bugs, threatening 112 320 kg of macadamia nuts.

The macadamia nuts are valued at over US$300 000.

The Standard was told yesterday that Edwin's employees are already planting maize on the farm despite the fact that the 45-day notice given to Gura's company has not lapsed.

A letter by Onai Sithole, the acting district lands officer for Chipinge District, gave Gura's company 45 days to vacate the farm.

The letter was dated December 11 2014.
"This letter serves to notify you, CollenGura, to vacate the remainder of Strepie of Hofstede, Chipinge district as you do not have lawful authority from government to occupy the farms," Sithole wrote.

"In terms of the Gazetted Land [Consequential Provisions] Act, it is a criminal offence for one to occupy gazetted land without an offer letter, resettlement lease, or land permit from the ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement."

It also emerged last week that the farm has not been gazetted for acquisition by government.

Previously there were two notices to compulsorily acquire the farm, which were withdrawn by the Administrative Court on July 17 2003 and on March 17 2005 as it was protected under the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement.

After the withdrawal of the notice, the former owner agreed to donate 130 hectares of land to government for resettlement. The Strepie section of the farm donated 100 hectares to remain with 64,65 hectares. This would mean Edwin is entitled to that hectarage and not the 164,65 hectares.

The Chihosa section donated 30 hectares and remained with 237,66 hectares.

Chinotimba said he was not the owner of the farm and referred all questions to his son.

Asked why he has been seen at the property, the Buhera South legislator said he was visiting his son "like what all fathers do".

Edwin's mobile phone was unreachable.
Gura referred all questions to the ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement which he said was seized with the matter.

Lands and Rural Resettlement minister Douglas Mombeshora was unavailable for comment as his phone was unreachable.

Nixon Kutsaranga, chief lands officer for Manicaland Province yesterday asked The Standard to call him tomorrow (Monday) when he would be at work.

Observers yesterday said the controversy over the farm mirrored the chaos that has characterised the land reform programme where a few politically-connected individuals preyed on productive farms owned by locals.

A Zanu-PF central committee report to last month's 6th congress said, acquisition of land from indigenous people to empower another was wrong.

"Hence, where practically possible, the indigenous person should be given back their farms and people resettled thereon relocated," Zanu-PF said.