HARARE – Saviour Kasukuwere pointed the finger of blame at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime on Tuesday after a veld fire destroyed hundreds of citrus trees at his farm in Mazowe.
The former Zanu PF politburo member whose run for president in last month’s general elections was controversially stopped by a court claimed the “arson attack” was part of efforts to drive him out of the farm.
“Seventy hectares have been completely destroyed and the infrastructure, including an irrigation system. The land reform has become a curse.
“The cruelty we are experiencing is beyond comprehension. I never thought one’s country and those you have worked with in life can go to this extent,” Kasukuwere told ZimLive from South Africa where he lives in exile.
Kasukuwere said the farm, known as Concorpia, had been illegally seized by the government and allocated to a Mashonaland Central war veterans’ leader Ephanos Mudzimunye.
“Police have been refusing to evict him in spite of the High Court order granted in our favour. This government is highly vindictive,” Kasukuwere said.
Despite the court order, Mudzimunye has refused to leave the farm, claiming that he was allocated the land by the late Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement minister, Perrance Shiri.
Kasukuwere, a former local government and youth minister has been embroiled in a dispute over the ownership of Concorpia Farm.
This has led to a stalemate, with production at the farm coming to a standstill.
Though the extent of the loss incurred by the fire is yet to be determined, the tragedy has worsened the situation as it has caused damage to the citrus plantation.
Kasukuwere had filed papers to run for president in the August 23 elections but was disqualified by a court following an application by a Zanu PF activist on the basis that he had be out of the country for more than 18 continuous months.
