January 28 - February 04, 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe

Posted on February 4, 2015

Compiled by MIGS Desk Officer for Zimbabwe – Mike Taylor

1. White farmers can stay on land with conditions
2. Didymus Mutasa situation splits Zanu PF
3. Hunger in Zimbabwe attributed to land reform policies

Bloomberg, January 30, 2015

“Zimbabwe Minister Says White Farmers to Remain on Their Land” by Brian Latham

So long as Zimbabwe’s remaining white farmers register their farms and reduce their plot sizes, they can avoid eviction. This comes from Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora.
The farmers have been told that they need to downsize and to “regularize their stay on farms.” Mombeshora also emphasized that farmers would not be chased off of their property.
Newsday reported that white farmers on land listed for takeover would have 90 days to vacate their properties. This information was attributed to Mombeshora.
Bloomberg cites estimates that around 300 white farmers remain on their land in Zimbabwe.

*State-controlled media did not report on this matter.

Bulawayo24, February 10, 2015

“Riot police beat up worshippers”

Anti-riot police descended on a ranch in Matopo and beat up villagers who gathered for a prayer meeting on the farm. The villagers are allegedly opposed to the acquisition of the farm by Rodney Mashingaidze, an official from the president’s office.
Locals had gathered for two days of prayer to prevent the acquisition of the land from white farmer, David Cunningham. The villagers were beat up by riot police on the pretext that they were preventing the takeover.
Some reports are emerging that Cunningham is in the custody of local police, but Matabeleland South police have not acknowledged this.
Chiefs who were opposed to the land acquisition were told to mind their own business of ensuring the continuance of traditional values.

Bulawayo24, February 5, 2015

“Riot police, soldiers attack Zanu PF youths, war vets”

Riot police attacked Zanu PF farm invaders in Chipinge, Manicaland, south of Mutare. The Zanu PF youths and war veterans under attack alleged that the owner of the farm already had several other farms in his possession.
The owner was also not from Chipinge, where there are several landless individuals.
Riot police beat up the Zanu PF and war veterans who were protesting and turned the farm over to its owner. Chipinge East MP Winmore Mlambo noted that he and his constituents had been asking for land for quite some time. It was implied that it is unsatisfactory that land be given away to someone from outside of the region.

*State-controlled media has not reported on these events.