Tobacco Farmers Face Barn Access Crisis in Zimbabwe.
A former white farm owner blocks resettled farmers from using tobacco barns at Forrester J Estate in Mvurwi, Zimbabwe. Chris Brooker claims he needs compensation before letting farmers use key buildings.
The government took over the land in 2001 and gave plots to 50 new farmers. But Brooker, who lives in Germany, sends agents to block barn access. His guards stop farmers from curing their tobacco, causing crops to rot in fields.
Police arrest farmers who try to enter the barns. The District Administrator and Attorney General know about these arrests at Mvurwi station.
"Police stop us from using the tobacco barns," said farmer Tapfuma Mudenha. "This limits our national tobacco output."
Brooker owns seven other farms with similar buildings but insists on using Forrester J's facilities. The Agriculture Ministry states farmers should have free access to farm buildings. Only written orders from the ministry can block this access.
A Herald visit found locked barns under heavy guard. This differs from other seized farms where new owners use all buildings as the state plans former owner payments.
"Last year, officials saw our tobacco rot outside barns," one farmer said. "The white man took pipes and locked everything."
The ministry declared that all buildings on seized farms belong to the government. Local lands officer Shepherd Mutandiri said they solved these issues last year and urged both sides to work together.
Brooker did not respond to requests for comment.
A former white farm owner blocks resettled farmers from using tobacco barns at Forrester J Estate in Mvurwi, Zimbabwe. Chris Brooker claims he needs compensation before letting farmers use key buildings.
The government took over the land in 2001 and gave plots to 50 new farmers. But Brooker, who lives in Germany, sends agents to block barn access. His guards stop farmers from curing their tobacco, causing crops to rot in fields.
Police arrest farmers who try to enter the barns. The District Administrator and Attorney General know about these arrests at Mvurwi station.
"Police stop us from using the tobacco barns," said farmer Tapfuma Mudenha. "This limits our national tobacco output."
Brooker owns seven other farms with similar buildings but insists on using Forrester J's facilities. The Agriculture Ministry states farmers should have free access to farm buildings. Only written orders from the ministry can block this access.
A Herald visit found locked barns under heavy guard. This differs from other seized farms where new owners use all buildings as the state plans former owner payments.
"Last year, officials saw our tobacco rot outside barns," one farmer said. "The white man took pipes and locked everything."
The ministry declared that all buildings on seized farms belong to the government. Local lands officer Shepherd Mutandiri said they solved these issues last year and urged both sides to work together.
Brooker did not respond to requests for comment.
