CHRONOLOGY OF STATE HARASSMENT |
| |
| Unless otherwise stated
all incidents occurred on Charleswood Estate, Chimanimani |
| |
| Date |
Category |
Incident |
| 10/05.00 |
Invasion |
ZANU PF supporters invade farm, evict management and abuse Heather
Bennett and hold her hostage. Stay on property for three weeks, loot
and steal equipment, clothing and personal belongings. |
| 17.07.01 |
Invasion |
Armed police and others enter property, intimidate workers. |
| 20.07.01 |
Invasion |
Government Minister Chombo, Air Vice Marshall Mucena and provincial
heads on army and ZANU PF and war veterans tour the farm. |
| 2.08.01 |
Invasion |
Local police officer claims he and thirteen others have been allocated
plots. Begin to section off farm. No legal right to do so. |
| 14.08.01 |
Invasion |
More settlers arrive and allocate plots illegally. |
| 25.08.01 |
Invasion |
Police detail take up permanent residence on Charleswood. |
| 10.09.01 |
Invasion |
Government tractors arrive and begin ploughing for illegal settlers. |
| 23.09.01 |
Invasion |
11 Soldiers move on to farm. Some assaults. |
| 1.10.01 |
Theft /assault |
Army Police and CIO steal 97 tonnes of maize. Roy Bennett assaulted
by army LT Nyahuni. Threatened with death |
| 10.10.01 |
Govt evaluation |
Government evaluation team arrive and insist on being driven around
farm. |
| 11.10.01 |
Attack |
Three settlers try to commandeer farm vehicle, smash windscreen. |
| 13.10.01 |
Assault |
Army personnel assault an employee, lazarus Mkungato |
| 20.12.01 |
Assault |
Resident soldiers assault and threaten workers. |
| 8.01.02 |
Invasions |
Police vehicles being used regularly to ferry settlers on to the
farm. |
| 22.01.02 |
Harassment |
Farm teacher and family intimidated by ZANU PF supporters. |
| 29.01.02 |
Assault |
P Mapaike assaulted by army. Accused of having son who supports
MDC. |
| 4.02.02 |
Assault |
Amos Makaza assaulted and detained by drunken army officer. |
| 5.02.02 |
Threats |
ZANU PF hold meeting on farm. Threaten to kill all MDC supporters
should they win elections. |
| 9.02.02 |
Assault |
Simba Mahoya beaten by army. |
| 01.03.02 |
Threats |
Benett threatened and harassed by Insp. Chogugudza, ZRP Chimanimani |
| 04.03.02 |
Threats |
R. Benett called to Police Station by Chief superintendent Mabunda.
Present were Joseph Mwale, CIO and army. Mr Benett was threatened
with death |
| 9.03.02 |
Harassment |
Bennett threatened and harassed by police and CIO after raid on
Chimanimani club. |
| 11.03.02 |
Arrest |
Wally Johnson from Mawenje Lodge arrested and taken to Chimanimani.
No charges laid. |
| 20.03.02 |
Evictions |
Large numbers of displaced people arriving at Charleswood. Claim
to be MDC supporters evicted from their homes in the communal areas. |
| 4.04.02 |
Arrest |
Amos Makaza arrested y police. Vehicle impounded. Accused of conducting
MDC business. |
| 01.05.02 |
Court Order |
The High Court Harare issued a provisional order that is still
standing that barred the state from acquiring Charleswood Estate |
| 17.05.02 |
Assault |
Two workers threatened with death unless they removed their MDC
T shirts. |
| 9.06.02 |
Assault |
Elliot Anahu arrested and severely beaten by police |
| 6.07.02 |
Assault |
War Vets severely assault farm employee. Genitals tied with rubber
band and he was paraded naked in farm village. |
| Date |
Category |
Incident |
| 21.07.02 |
Assault |
War Vets severely assault farm employee |
| 28.07.02 |
Arson |
Grazing area in camp 2 burned |
| 12.08.02 |
Harassment |
Two armed soldiers in Beer Hall |
| 18.08.02 |
Harassment |
Army, Police, CID, CIO visit Compound . Beatings arrests |
| 23.08.02 |
Interference |
Chayamiti Zanu PF tell driver to stop collecting coffee pickers |
| 05.09.02 |
Arson |
Camp 1 and 10 completely burnt out |
| 08.09.02 |
Harassment assault |
CIO and Police raid Farm. Arrests and Beatings |
| 10.09.02 |
Theft |
Theft of battery from Pulpery RRB 17824 |
| 14.09.02 |
Theft |
Rye grass ploughed in by DDF and Chumonorwa |
| 22.09.02 |
Harassment |
2 drivers stopped at skyline and D/L’s taken. |
| 24.09.02 |
Assault |
police, army, CIO raid farm. Arrests and beatings |
| 28.09.02 |
Assault |
Chamunorwa assaults female farm employee |
| 09.10.02 |
Assault/detention |
R.Bennet, M. Magwaza and S. Girvin arrested by police and CIO .
J. Mwale and two CIO details drew loaded pistols and threatened to
shoot Bennet. They were arrested at 11 am on 09/10/02 and were given
no food or water til 6:00 pm on 10/10/02. Superintendent Muchaonyera,
A/Inspct. Mufuriranwa and CIo Joseph Mwale assaulted Benett in his
cell, whilst Inspct Chogugudza watched. Benett was moved to Chipangai
Police Station where he was further abused and harassed by the Police.
He was released the next day without charge. |
| 16.10.02 |
Court Order |
The honourable mrs Justice Mungwira ordered
that: The Preliminary notice to compulsorily acquire Charleswood
Estates in the district
of Melsetter issued by the respondent on the 27th April 2001 in terms
of section 5(1) of the land acquisition act, chapter 20:10 be and
is hereby set aside." |
| 30.11.02 |
Assault |
Elijah Mamvara assaulted with gun butt by soldier |
| 30.11.02 |
Theft |
Police illegally impound fuel destined for farm. |
| 4.12.02 |
Assault |
Chiwaya Assaulted RRB |
| 17.12.02 |
Harassment |
District Attorney arrives on farm with others. Tell workers to
stop working and CIO threatened beatings if workers resumed work. |
| 17.12.02 |
Arrest |
Three workers abducted and questioned by ZANU PF. |
| 18.12.02 |
Assault |
Security guard, Paradzai Madinga assaulted and hospitalised |
| 19.12.02 |
Harassment |
ZANU PF officials visit farm to give workers last warning to stop
work. Otherwise army would be sent to beat them. |
| 20.01.03 |
Court Order |
The Honourable Navangira issued a provisional order stating that:
the minister of lands and agriculture and rural resettlement is interdicted
from compulsorily acquiring Charleswood estate because of the licence
granted to Mr Bennet by the export processing Zone Authority. |
| 6.02.03 |
harassment |
Saize Willard forced to remove T shirt, roll in mud and kicked. |
| 6.02.03 |
harassment |
Soldier George Anasau threatens workers, shoots at one |
| 17.03.03 |
Assault and torture |
Richard Sauta abducted and severely beat Tagarira Murimba, Tonderai
Murimba and Stephen Tonera all employees of Delport Farm, Ruwa. They
were beaten with Pick handles and subjected to electric shocks. |
| 17.03.03 |
Murder |
Stephen Tonera died from injuries inflicted during the beating
at 06:30 on Tuesday 18th of March outside Epwort Police Station. |
| 20.03.03 |
Assault |
A large group of over 20 uniformed army personnel, including Richard
Sauta, arrived at Deloprt farm and severely beat the farm manager,
his wife and over 80 of the farm staff. Many of the victims were
severely injured in the attack. |
| 26.03.03 |
Workers Evicted |
Farm Workers evicted in rain at gunpoint from charleswood estate
to Chimanimani bus stop |
| 02.04.03 |
Workers return |
After fifteen days at bus stop all workers return to Charleswood |
| 02.04.03 |
Assault |
Makaza, Happy and Joseph assaulted by Mwale and Briton of CIO with
a whip, pistol and fists. |
| 08.04.03 |
Court Order |
Justice Karwi granted an order by consent which provided that,
the state and its functionaries be interdicted from threatening,
abusing, intimidating, harassing assaulting or communicating with
the directors, employees and their family members of companies belonging
to the Honourable MP Roy Bennett, operating at Charleswood Estate;
and that the employees of Charleswood Estate and their families were
permitted and directed to return forthwith to their homes on, and
continue working for Charleswood Estate. This order has also been
ignored. |
| 01.05.03 |
Harassment |
Mwale threatening workers in Farm beerhall |
| 06.05.03 |
Illegal search |
Police search Compound and steal the maize |
| 08.05.03 |
Theft by police |
Police surround compound, search and take 20 lots of maize. |
| 16.05.03 |
Assaults |
Arrests and assaults by Police for alleged maize thefts - false |
| 01.06.03 |
Harassment |
Police raid compound |
| 08.06.03 |
Harassment |
Police Harassment – using AK’s. |
| 15.06.03 |
ZANU youth invade Delport Farm |
A group of CIO officers led 150 Zanu PF Youth onto Deloprt farm
and threatened to kill anyone working for Roy Benett. 2000 litres
of diesel, 53 bags of maize and farm machinery were looted by the
armed youths. |
| 22.06.03 |
Threats |
Threats against Makaza by Mwale at Police Station. |
| 09.07.03 |
Arrests |
Police at school arrest Chaveni and others. |
| 11.07.03 |
Arrest |
Police arrest Shepherd – False case of maize
theft |
| 12.07.03 |
Assault |
Assault by Police in Compound against Orbert |
| 04.08.03 |
Harassment |
Temba stopped driving coffee pickers. D/L
taken – Chogogudza |
| 23.09.03 |
Army sets up camp |
Army Camp set up on farm in Camp 9. 6 Army details. |
| 13.10.03 |
Harassment |
School Committee meeting stopped by Army. |
| 27.10.03 |
Assault |
Assault by Army on workers in Camp 9 RRB 0076784 ? |
| 29.10.03 |
Assault |
Assault by Army. |
| 10.11.03 |
Harassment |
Harassment by Army |
| 14.11.03 |
Invasion |
Farm Invasion. Police in violation of Court Order. |
| 14.11.03 |
harassment |
S/Guard Zwhwawo harassed and disarmed of shotgun by ARDA security
guard. Weapon taken by Police. Sgt Nasho |
| 18.11.03 |
Court Order |
The Magistrate Court at Mutare issued a provisional order against
functionaries of the State. State interdicted from entering Charleswood
Estates and harassing workers. Sgt Nasho and ARDA ordered to vacate
property. |
| 06.02.04 |
Assault |
06 Feb Assault GBH – Manyande – worker severely
beaten by Nasho etc for alleged theft |
| 08.02.04 |
Arson/ assault |
Makaza’s house attacked and destroyed by
fire. |
| 08.02.04 |
Murder |
Shamy Chimbarara shot in the head and Joseph Kaitano shot in the
leg by ZNA Soldier Joseph Nyamahwe 3 Brigade. Investigations by Mavunga
of Mutare CID |
| 08.02.04 |
Harassment |
13 workers arrested and taken to Chipinge – charged
with arson for burning war vets hut. ( Nasho) |
| 25.02.04 |
Court Order |
High Court Judge Justice Karwi granted a provisional ordergiving
leave for Bennet Brothers to carry on farming activities on Charleswood
Estates. The state and its functionaries were interdicted from interfering
in any way. |
| 26.03.04 |
Assault |
1 Farm employee was confronted and assaulted by members of the
ZNA |
| 27.03.04 |
Rape |
A nineteen year old girl was raped in the compound by a policeman
who was in uniform and armed. Report made to OIC Ruzvidzo at Chimanimani
ZRP |
| 28.03.04 |
Assault |
Cattle herder assaulted by uniformed members of the ZNA |
| 02.04.04 |
Assault |
17 children ranging in age from 8 -17 years were stopped on their
way to a football game by soldiers. After being forced to assault
one another they were then beaten by the soldiers. Incident reported
to ZRP, no arrests made |
| 06.02.04 |
Rape/assault |
1 teenager raped and 2 sexually assaulted by ex Police Sgt Nasho
and war veterans Chamunorwa Muusha, Karenyi and Mabumba Implicated. |
| 9.04.04 |
Invasion/Eviction |
Zimbabwe National Army and Police invade farm, force Bennett's
family and management to flee. |
| 14.04.04 |
Eviction |
Wally Johnson, his wife and staff at Mawenji lodge given 30 minutes
to leave by armed police, army and CIO. |
| Date |
Category |
Incident |
| 13.05.04 |
Court Order |
Mawenje Lodge: High Court Judge Hlatshwayo
ordered that: "The Respondents
shall restore forthwith to the applicants occupation of their property
Mawenje Lodge at Charleswood Estate and the applicants are hereby
authorised to return to their property and to carry on their business." Case
Number HC 4703/04 |
