Mohadi son farm dispute: Villagers flee to mountains

Villagers at Arnold Farm in Mazowe have fled their homes and sought refuge in the mountains, fearing for their lives after protesting against an attempted land takeover by one of Vice-President Kembo Mohadi's sons, Mafenyadira Mohadi. The protestors accused Mafenyadira of using state security agents to intimidate and force them off the farm, which they have lived on for years.

Last week, it was reported that suspected state security agents were searching for those believed to have led the protest. In response, several villagers have taken shelter in the nearby mountains to avoid arrest or further victimization. A total of 27 villagers have already been arrested on charges of disorderly conduct related to the protest, and they appeared in court last week.

Livingstone Musanhi, a member of the Arnold Farm residents association, confirmed that villagers are now hiding in the mountains. "The situation is not good on the ground," Musanhi said. "We are staying in the mountains because we are being arrested, and I am told the state security agents have a list of the people they want to arrest. We even fear going to court in solidarity with our fellow villagers because we might be arrested at the Concession Magistrates Court."

Mafenyadira Mohadi could not be reached for comment.

In a statement last week, Mafenyadira's cousin, Hardlife Samuwi, accused the villagers of provoking violent clashes with the security guards and police. Samuwi also defended Mafenyadira's actions, claiming that the farm had been allocated to him by the Ministry of Lands.

The land dispute at Arnold Farm is not a new issue. In March 2017, police forcibly evicted villagers from the farm, destroying their homes and crops in the process. The eviction was carried out under the pretext of establishing a national monument and expanding business interests associated with former first lady Grace Mugabe. However, after seeking legal aid from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the community won a High Court ruling that prevented their eviction.

There are also reports suggesting that other high-ranking government officials are eyeing land on the farm. Despite the government's land reform programme, many people allocated land under the scheme still lack security of tenure and live under constant fear of eviction.

Recently, the government has proposed issuing bankable 99-year leases to beneficiaries of the land reform programme to provide more security for those on state-allocated land. However, the ongoing dispute at Arnold Farm highlights the vulnerability of many landholders, who continue to face the threat of eviction or land grabs by influential figures.

The situation at Arnold Farm remains tense, with villagers living in fear of further violence and arrests as the government's land reform legacy continues to unravel.