Full report on murder, rape, torture and arson at Charleswood Estate
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
Sheni Chimbarara, a farm worker on Charleswood Estate in Chimanimani, was shot dead by Zimbabwe National Army soldiers last night. A second farm headman by the name of John Kaitano was shot and injured. Charleswood Estate is the farm of MDC Member of Parliament for Chimanimani, Roy Bennett.
Trouble started on Friday when three ladies called Viola Ngwenya (18), Spiwe Chivhuro (15) and Melody where abducted and taken to a war veteran’s base. Viola Ngwenya was allegedly raped twice by Muusha during one night. The other two were sexually abused by Nasho, Kareyi and Mabumba who took turns to fondle their breasts and private parts. The girls were abducted when they were passing by the base where the farm workers from the farm were being tortured.
Also on Friday, Nasho, Kareyi and Mabumba perpetrated the torture to young farm workers, accusing them of stealing maize. The young farm workers whose names were not furnished allege that the war veterans used hot iron rods to beat them. One of the victims sustained a deep cut on his right eye after having been axed by a war veteran during the torture.
When the victims of rape were taken to Mutare for medical examinations, the war veterans descended the house of Amos Makaza, the Charleswood security manager, on Sunday at 8pm with the intention of killing him. They accused Makaza of spying on them and “selling out”. The war veterans damaged windowpanes and doors during the raid. Farm workers who heard of the attack at Makaza’s house came out in large numbers so that they could rescue him. A commotion ensued resulting in the war veterans seeking refuge at the soldiers’ base.
The farm workers responded to the rape and the attack on Mr Makaza by burning down the war veterans’ houses. Nasho and Muusha had their shacks burnt down during the commotion. At this time, soldiers opened fire on the farm workers with bursts of automatic weapon fire, killing Sheni Chimbarara and wounding John Kaitano.
After farm workers had fled the war veterans in the company of the armed soldiers pelted 10 petrol bombs at Mr Amos Makaza’s house. Mr Makaza house and car were completely destroyed. It is estimated that Makaza could have lost household property worth at least $10 million in that fire.
As a result of this act of arson there was confusion at Charleswood Estate as fellow farm workers tried to assist put out the fire
At 10:00am this morning Chimbarara’s body was still on the road as farm workers were waiting for the police. Although the police were informed of the latest incident at Charleswood Estate, they are reported to have taken too long to respond to the call for assistance.
Soldiers and settlers also took advantage of the chaos on the farm to butcher and steal cattle belonging to Mr Bennett. Two heifers and two steers were shot dead. One heifer had its tail cut off and the other two had their hind legs axed. A calf was shot by an arrow, which still lodged on its back by the time the report was made.
This murder and arson attacks are the latest in a series of rapes, beatings and other acts of violence that have occurred since Lieutenant General Mike Nyambuya, the Governor of Manicaland, threatened to evict Roy Bennett from Charleswood Estates on Thursday the 22nd of January 2004. The Governor incited violence against MDC and NGO officials in a meeting with local councillors held at Chimanimani Hotel.
The attack on farm workers at Charleswood Estate is perceived as an open attack on Roy Bennett. At one time in 2003 at a Masvingo rally, Robert Mugabe urged his followers and the national land committee members to make sure that Bennett and De Klerk have had all their land taken away from them. Series of attacks on Charleswood farm workers followed the statement by President Mugabe although the resilience of the Roy Bennett and his farm workers has made it difficult for the government to acquire Charleswood Estate.
Although Nyambuya has rejuvenated efforts to evict Roy Bennett his farm, this is being done in total defiance of Justice Karwi’s High Court order, which bars Zimbabwe Republic Police members, soldiers from entering Charleswood unless they are carrying police and military duties. Charleswood Estate falls under the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and this automatically makes it impossible for the government to compulsorily acquire the farm for resettlement.
For more information, please call James Mukwaya on 011761080
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