Ian Ferguson a citrus farmer in Beitbridge has lost more than 30 000 orange trees after a serving soldier, Army Colonel Dalton Muleya invaded his farm. The orange trees were aged 30 years old, and were destroyed after ZESA switched off electricity to the farm. However, despite numerous complaints and reports, the police and the Ministry of Lands have failed to act.
All this is happening despite the fact that Cabinet made a resolution that no citrus farm should be taken and redistributed.
Ferguson said:
During the year, Darlton Muleya has made his presence felt by threatening behaviour to anyone that dared to venture onto the part of the farm where his employees reside.
Since January this year, we have been in negotiations with Zesa who had turned off all power points in June 2015 when they heard that the offer letters had been issued and this with no notification or reference to us whatsoever.
The termination of power was immediately after I was told verbally to vacate the farm by the district lands officer which does illustrate collusion between Zesa and the local lands office.
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