Villagers at Arnold Farm in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, have deserted their homes and sought shelter in the mountains. They fear for their lives after protesting an attempted takeover of their land by Mafenyadira Mohadi, son of Vice-President Kembo Mohadi. The villagers accuse Mafenyadira of deploying state security agents to threaten them and force them off the farm they have called home for years.
The situation has escalated, with 27 villagers arrested for disorderly conduct in connection with the protest. They appeared in court last week. Livingstone Musanhi, a member of the Arnold Farm residents association, confirms that villagers have sought refuge in the mountains to avoid victimization or arrest. They fear attending court in solidarity with their fellow villagers due to the risk of being arrested themselves.
Mafenyadira's cousin, Hardlife Samuwi, blames the villagers for the violent clashes with security guards and police. He claims that the Ministry of Lands allocated the farm to Mafenyadira. This land dispute follows a 2017 incident where police forcibly evicted villagers from Arnold Farm, demolishing homes and destroying crops to establish a national monument and expand business interests associated with former first lady Grace Mugabe. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights assisted the community, resulting in a High Court ruling that favored the villagers and stopped their eviction.
Allegations suggest that several high-ranking government officials are also eyeing pieces of land at the farm. Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform programme, ongoing for over two decades, has left many beneficiaries without security of tenure and under constant threat of eviction. The government recently indicated plans to provide bankable 99-year leases to land reform beneficiaries.
The situation has escalated, with 27 villagers arrested for disorderly conduct in connection with the protest. They appeared in court last week. Livingstone Musanhi, a member of the Arnold Farm residents association, confirms that villagers have sought refuge in the mountains to avoid victimization or arrest. They fear attending court in solidarity with their fellow villagers due to the risk of being arrested themselves.
Mafenyadira's cousin, Hardlife Samuwi, blames the villagers for the violent clashes with security guards and police. He claims that the Ministry of Lands allocated the farm to Mafenyadira. This land dispute follows a 2017 incident where police forcibly evicted villagers from Arnold Farm, demolishing homes and destroying crops to establish a national monument and expand business interests associated with former first lady Grace Mugabe. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights assisted the community, resulting in a High Court ruling that favored the villagers and stopped their eviction.
Allegations suggest that several high-ranking government officials are also eyeing pieces of land at the farm. Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform programme, ongoing for over two decades, has left many beneficiaries without security of tenure and under constant threat of eviction. The government recently indicated plans to provide bankable 99-year leases to land reform beneficiaries.
