Zimbabwe: Roadside Home for Chegutu Family

Source from:  Zimbabwe Standard (Harare) 23 August 2008 08/27/2008

A Chegutu family is living by the roadside after they were evicted from their farm-home for the past 28 years. Chegutu tobacco farmer, Kobus Joubert, together with his wife, Mariana and their 18 workers are staying in the open after being thrown out of the farm by Felix Pambukani, a latest beneficiary of government's land reform programme. Another family, which sought refuge at the Jouberts, the Steyns, are among the homeless. "We received an eviction order on the 15th of this month and the deputy sheriff came on the same evening and told us to move out," Joubert said. During the day, they sit gloomily by the roadside in the company of eight of their workers, who say they are obliged to support the man who has been like a father to them. Twelve others reportedly spend the day loitering at the farm compound and the two groups switch posts at night. Pambukani has allegedly told some of the employees that he will retain them as his workers and has promised to give them all the good things they think they will miss after the Jouberts' departure. "Some of us were born on Scotsdale Farm and only know it to be our home," a long-faced employee said. "Mr Joubert is the only employer we have ever known and we are very close to him because of his treatment and assistance given to us over the years". The family, with its property which includes tractors, trucks, refrigerators, stoves, wardrobes, pots, plates, clothes and beds is camped by the highway. While motorists gaze through the windows as they pass by, others pull-up to enquire if there is an auction on site. They cook in the open and sleep there at night. Neighbours have been kind enough to allow them to use their bathrooms and toilet facilities. On Saturday last week, their pregnant daughter, together with her husband and two children visited and spent the day with them in the open, with hardly any cheer to mark a typical family gathering. A former president of the Tobacco Farmers Association, Joubert says his sorrows began on June 24 when 19 men, led by the self-proclaimed and controversial war veteran Gilbert Moyo, came to his farm and told him they were giving him 30 minutes to vacate. "He stole my pick-up, 385 litres of diesel, slaughtered my sheep and all my wife's chickens to feed his people," Joubert said. "They stayed on the farm but were ordered out on June 27." Moyo and his group allegedly returned after the 27th but police and the Zanu PF councillors in the district intervened and drove him out. Shaken by the events, Joubert says he sought assistance from some government officials but had to leave for three weeks. He cut short his absence after he was notified that Pambukani had occupied the farm. In court documents filed at the Chegutu magistrates' court, Pambukani says he expected Joubert to vacate the farm on February 4, 2008 as he was now the lawful owner of the farm after the government allocated it to him. "(Joubert) is making my occupation of the farm and the farm house impossible.......He has no right whatsoever to deny me such occupation as I am the person who was legitimately offered the farm," he said. "I have been denied the use and enjoyment of the property by (him) in circumstances of pure contempt of the law and invalid challenge too the government's Land Reform Programme......the farming season is approaching and I want to start preparations for serious farming.....". He further alleges that he has sought the assistance of police and the ministry of lands "without joy" and is therefore taking the matter to the courts. Joubert is also challenging the occupation of his farm, alleging that he has a 2003 delisting for Section 8 on which Pambukani is basing his arguments. Enditem