Mvuma, Zimbabwe | In a chilling display of alleged abuse of office that reeks of intimidation, senior commanders from the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) have been accused of invading a farm belonging to prominent opposition politician Patrick Cheza and wantonly destroying his livelihood.
The incident, which occurred this past Saturday in Mvuma, saw over two hectares of a flourishing, two-week-old maize crop ploughed back into the earth, sparking outrage and allegations of political victimization.
The “Scary” Abuse of Power
According to reports filed under RRB 5909845 at Mvuma Police Station, the operation was allegedly led by Stanford Ncube, a senior officer at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Airbase, and Commissioner Somemore Gate, the ZPCS Officer Commanding for Midlands Province.
Witnesses claim the high-ranking security officials descended on the farm in a convoy that included two unmarked Ford Rangers and a tractor. In a move that defies the logic of food security, the tractor was reportedly used to mow down the young maize crop, which was already five centimeters high.
This brazen use of unmarked vehicles flies in the face of recent warnings by Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba, who publicly castigated the use of unregistered vehicles, explicitly noting their frequent association with criminal activity.
“We Will Not Be Intimidated”
Cheza, who is locked in a battle to retain the land, remains defiant despite the presence of heavy-handed state security machinery. He has vowed to sue the officers involved for the malicious destruction of property.
“We cannot stand by and watch individuals of this ilk making themselves more special than others. I have vowed to stand up for the voiceless and defend our people, particularly in rural areas, against abusive elements like these,” Cheza told The Mirror.
The sequence of events describes a tense standoff. Cheza reportedly rushed from Chirumhanzu after receiving a distress call from his farm workers. En route, he encountered Ncube, who allegedly sped away upon recognizing the politician. Cheza proceeded to the farm, confronting Commissioner Gate and his team, leading to a heated argument before the security chiefs departed.
“They think because they work for the army they can scare people. I am not afraid of them, and I will stand up to them anytime they think they are more special than everyone else,” Cheza declared.
The destruction of the crop comes at a time when the legal ownership of the farm is under intense scrutiny. While the farm has been the center of a dispute between Cheza and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, records submitted to the Masvingo High Court reportedly confirm that the Government officially allocated the farm to Cheza.
Crucially, the destruction took place while a High Court application for a declaratory order confirming Cheza’s ownership was already pending.
Cheza’s legal team, led by Leopold Mudisi of Mutendi Legal Practitioners, is reportedly filing an urgent chamber application to interdict the security officials from further interference on the property.
When reached for comment, the Air Force of Zimbabwe remained silent.
However, ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General Social Ndanga acknowledged seeing reports on social media but claimed ignorance regarding the specifics. “I have read some articles about the case, but I am yet to get the facts on the ground as to what actually happened,” Ndanga stated.
As investigations continue, the incident has raised serious questions about property rights and the involvement of uniformed forces in civil land disputes.
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