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(ZIMPAPERS) Farmer Derek Shaw accused of assaulting land beneficiary

Farmer Derek Shaw accused of assaulting land beneficiary
Tuesday, 09 November 2010 19:05 Crime & Courts
New farmers succeed in maize production
Midlands Bureau Chief

A commercial farmer in Gweru “invaded” a newly resettled farmer’s plot, grabbed her offer letter and allegedly assaulted the woman and her daughter before disappearing. The commercial farmer, Derek Shaw, first shot pictures of the new farmer’s make-shift shelter before bursting into the house uninvited.

Lands officers in the Midlands and the police confirmed the incident that happened yesterday at around 9 am at 49 Wildebeest Farm in Guinea Fowl, just outside Gweru.
In an interview, the new farmer, Mrs Irvina Gusha Zimunhu, who was accompanied by her husband, Mr Joram Zimunhu, told Chronicle that Shaw came driving to her plot and started shooting pictures without talking to anyone.

“I was with my 24-year old daughter and my two-year old baby. After he finished shooting pictures of the outside of my makeshift house, he then entered into the house without knocking. He again started shooting more pictures from inside,” she said.

Mrs Zimunhu said when Shaw finished taking the pictures he then demanded that she surrender her offer letter to him.

“I was holding the offer letter in my hand when we were arguing. He then suddenly grabbed the letter and when I tried to take back the letter he violently shoved me away. My daughter also tried to grab the letter and was elbowed and she fell down together with the baby she was carrying,” she said.

Her husband, Mr Zimunhu said the whole thing could have been planned by Shaw and his workers since the suspect only “invaded” his plot in his absence.

“We moved onto the plot more than a week ago. We applied for the land from the Government following proper channels and we were given the plot and an offer letter confirming that we were now the owners of the plot in question. I spent six days at the plot and no incident took place. Shaw only decided to attack my family when I returned to work yesterday,” said Mr Zimunhu.

Mrs Zimunhu and her daughter made a report to the police at Gweru Central. Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Patrick Chademana, confirmed receiving the report.

Labels: NEW FARMERS, PATRICK CHADEMANA, RHODESIANS, WHITE FARMERS

posted by MrK @ 8:00 PM