HARARE -- Zimbabwean police are blocking Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's key aide Roy Bennett from removing agricultural equipment from his former property, Charleswood estate, lawyers said last week.

In a letter to lawyers representing the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), which now runs Charleswood Estate after President Robert Mugabe's previous administration seized it from the MDC politician, Bennett’s lawyers said senior police officers blocked Bennett from accessing the estate.

“We confirm that our client did indeed go to Chimanimani," read the letter by Honey and Blanckenberg dated June 16 and addressed to Jakachira and Company legal practitioners. 

According to the lawyers the police, some of whom were armed, mounted a roadblock and threatened Bennett's wife with death.

"All other cars were allowed to pass without incident. Only our client’s entourage was stopped. The road block was mounted by very senior police officers, some of whom had guns and some who appeared intoxicated. Our client’s wife was threatened with death," said the lawyers. 

"Unprintable words were said to our client. He, upon pain of injury and death, was then compelled to turn back and return. The whole experience was harrowing.”

Honey and Blanckenberg wrote the letter after the authority said they will only assist Bennett to move his equipment if he pays expenses to be incurred by the ARDA’s staff who will assist Bennett when he wishes to remove his property. 

ARDA said they will only assist Bennett if he agrees to pay  “fuel, food, accommodation, travelling and subsistence allowances,” for the estate's staff.

ARDA argued that on March 27, 2010 the estate had travelled to Charleswood but was disappointed that Bennett did not arrive to move his equipment.

However, Bennett's lawyers said they believe ARDA is working hand in glove with the police to frustrate their client from accessing Charleswood estate.

“Our client believes that this road block was mounted at the instigation of your client. To that end our client is not responsible for the costs incurred by yours but will look at yours to settle his,” Honey and Blanckenberg said.

Bennett, who is Tsvangirai's choice for deputy agriculture minister in the unity government, has been struggling to remove his property from Charleswood estate for years and there have been reports that some of the property including bulldozers and tractors are missing from the farm.

The MDC politician was recently acquitted of terrorism charges but state prosecutors appealed the High Court ruling, further delaying his appointment to his post by Mugabe who insists that the courts must clear him of all charges first.

ARDA is best remembered for seizing, in 2005, Kondozi Estates in Manicaland province, then one of the most productive farms in the country, which has since been turned it into a large derelict piece of land.

The institution was set up to spearhead agricultural and rural development with increased support to smallholder farmers to facilitate the production of sufficient high-quality food for the nation and generate employment and income on a sustainable basis.

By Zimonline

Comments(2):

1. Farm allocation

   It is sad that insanity still prevails in the Zimbabwe armed forces whose prime roll is to protect the people and property but have turned against the people with the directions of the despot leader. Farms need to be handed to productive people so that agriculture can be boosted once more we are tied of cheap politics and excuses from this useless regime which does not think for the people but its sick generals and politicians. The day of reckoning will be soon.

   Tuesday, June 22, 2010 melcolm

2. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 melcolm