The people living at Arnold Farm are fighting to keep their homes. Last Friday, over 300 villagers protested when VP Mohadi's son tried to push them off their land. His son, Mafenyadira, sent security forces to scare them, but the villagers fought back and tore down his fence.
This isn't the first time someone powerful wanted their land. Back in 2017, Grace Mugabe tried to take the big farm near Mazowe Dam. The villagers won that fight in court. Now they hear that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa wants the land too.
During Friday's protest, riot police showed up as villagers held signs saying Mohadi's son was using his dad's power unfairly. His guards patrol at night, and some folks got arrested for going on "his" land. Over 10 villagers went to jail briefly for protesting without permission.
One of the farm residents, Livingstone Musanhi, says everyone is scared now. They can't even focus on planting their crops because of all the trouble. Through his cousin Hardlife Samuwi, Mohadi's son said the villagers were violent and broke a worker's hand.
This fight reminds people of Zimbabwe's tough history with land reform. Back in 2017, police knocked down homes and destroyed crops here, saying they needed the land for a monument and Grace Mugabe's business plans. The villagers got lawyers to help and won in court that time.
Now they're asking for talks and help to protect their homes once again as they face another threat of being kicked out.
This isn't the first time someone powerful wanted their land. Back in 2017, Grace Mugabe tried to take the big farm near Mazowe Dam. The villagers won that fight in court. Now they hear that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa wants the land too.
During Friday's protest, riot police showed up as villagers held signs saying Mohadi's son was using his dad's power unfairly. His guards patrol at night, and some folks got arrested for going on "his" land. Over 10 villagers went to jail briefly for protesting without permission.
One of the farm residents, Livingstone Musanhi, says everyone is scared now. They can't even focus on planting their crops because of all the trouble. Through his cousin Hardlife Samuwi, Mohadi's son said the villagers were violent and broke a worker's hand.
This fight reminds people of Zimbabwe's tough history with land reform. Back in 2017, police knocked down homes and destroyed crops here, saying they needed the land for a monument and Grace Mugabe's business plans. The villagers got lawyers to help and won in court that time.
Now they're asking for talks and help to protect their homes once again as they face another threat of being kicked out.
