War vets take over fishing lodge in Hippo Valley

http://www.swradioafrica.com

Posted by Tererai Karimakwenda on Monday, January 9, 2012


By Tererai Karimakwenda
09 January, 2012

Two lodges that cater to fisherman, and a small game reserve on the Hippo Valley Estates, were illegally taken by war vets in late December.

Gerry Whitehead, one of the few remaining white farmers in the area, said an initial attempt was made in September to take over Mteri Lodge in the Lowveld region, and police responded as they should and moved the war vets.

But the same group returned a couple of months later and took over, without any police interference. “The cooks and other staff remained but the actual management is gone and so is the security,” Whitehead said.

He described the evictions as a “western-style” gangland takeover, referring to the lawless, gun slingers portrayed in American cowboy movies. The war vets are accused of large-scale poaching on the estate, where there are herds of buffalo, eland, antelope and other small game.

According to Whitehead a white farmer named Richard Drummond, who works with the war vets, is alleged to be eyeing the hunting concessions there, so he can bring tourists to hunt the remaining game.

Drummond, who is a white Zimbabwean, is also alleged to have taken part in failed attempts to take over other properties in the Hippo Valley area.

“There are no white farmers remaining on the estate now. The farms have all been taken,” Whitehead explained.

Reports of war vets and ZANU PF chefs illegally taking over property and companies are nothing new in Zimbabwe. But the lawless nature of recent takeovers has disappointed many Zimbabweans who hoped for a return to the rule of law when the coalition government was created over three years ago.

The co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone has admitted she has no power to stop ZANU PF thugs, even in her own constituency where she said they run wild. Unfortunately this chaos drives away potential investors, at a time when Zimbabwe urgently needs foreign capital.

See pictures of Mteri Lodge

It's a shame Mr. Drummond and friends have not been introduced to Mr. Claymore.
Scott

While that is funny, I couldn't agree more.

Amen.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Leonard:
It's a shame Mr. Drummond and friends have not been introduced to Mr. Claymore.
Scott

Better yet, a couple of salvos from a battery of G6 155mm, half airbursts and the other half instant HE.

some may recall a post a few months ago which referred to a white Zimbabwean working in cahoots with war vets . This is the same gentleman. The name Richard Drummond is one he gives ,however his real name is Ken Drummond who many readers here will be familiar with . He has visited properties in the Save Conservancy and advised that he will be working with the new owners and building lodges .........

When I passed through Zim in Sept. I heard rumblings of take over attempts in the Save. Any news?

Dean

War vet and white farmer behind Chiredzi ranch invasions
http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
11 January, 2012

A white farmer named Ken Drummond is reported to have teamed up with war vet
Francis Zimuto, who calls himself Black Jesus, and the unlikely duo are
alleged to be intimidating the remaining white farmers in the Chiredzi and
Hippo Valley area, taking over properties illegally.

SW Radio Africa reported earlier this week that war vets had taken over
Mteri Lodge on the Hippo Valley estate and that Drummond was after the
hunting rights. We have since been informed that Zimuto was behind the
takeover and has been intimidating the owners at nearby Nhari Lodge.

The two are also alleged to be involved in similar deals at Impala Ranch and
Savuli Ranch, both in the Save Valley Conservancy. Five thugs working for
Zimuto invaded Savuli ranch four months ago and are living there, attempting
to turn the workers against the owner.

Sources in Chiredzi who chose not to be identified, said Zimuto is working
for the former ZANU-PF Minister Shuvai Mahofa. Drummond has visited Savuli
with his son Tiki, pretending it was an inspection.

“Mai Mahofa” claims to be the new owner of Savuli and has produced a copy of
a lease, according to trusted sources, who said close inspection showed that
the lease was invalid and had different dates on the pages.

Zimbabwe’s wild life conservancies have been under constant threat for ten
years and there appears to be a concerted effort to remove all remaining
obstacles to plundering them. Massive deforestation is taking place as all
the trees are cut down and thousands of animals continue to be snared and
slaughtered.

Deon Theron, former president of the Commercial Farmers Union, said the
conservancies were protected by law, but the absence of the rule of law
means any individual can target an area and invade with impunity.

“Although there is a unity government we all know that ZANU PF dictates what
should happen. Over the last ten years the law has been applied selectively
and those with the right connections are not prosecuted,” Theron explained.

Mark Young: What implications does this have for Forever Africa Safaris and Terry Anders? He is the one at Savuli.

Seems I was taken to task by my statement 09 May 2008 regarding the Drummond operation in the Bubiana Conservancy.

QUOTE: "It helps to be a ZANU-PF sympathizer."

Didn't I tell you??

Folks,

Below from Terry Anders just now. Savuli is not occupied by anyone. Let's not blow any of this out of proportion. As Impala seems to be included in the report and it is now part of the Zambezi Hunter operation I will try and get a statement from Alistair Pole.

Mark


Mark

[3:05:09 PM] foreverafrican: There are two guys on Savuli to learn anti-poaching. They have not invaded Savuli, they are staying in our camp compound and living there without any issues. They simply go on patrols with our scouts and do not interfere with any of our business. THey are there to learn. (even though they may have some hidden agenda of trying to get the local community against us.) THe community and chief have made it very clear that they are in full support of our operations etc and this has now been strengthened even further by the fact that the feasibility studies for the Community Game Ranch in the communal land adjacent to Savuli is going ahead this week.

Terry and I talked about this Community Game Ranch scheme and it will effectively double Savuli's area when the fence is taken down. Part of the proceeds from the hunting will go to the community and they are very enthusiastic about it.

Mark

Many thanks for the timely update, Mark!

I just got off the phone with Alistsir. Had I seen this I would have asked him. I will be with him and Jonny next week. I will ask and post.

When we were in Save in Sept. I took photos of what we believed were war vets at the Hammond Lodge looking like they were waiting on a meeting.
Not long after we left we met the American owners high tailing it for their property.
Much discusion for the rest of the safari about what was taking place.
I have opinions I want to post, but I'll bite my tounge for now.

I heard this same stuff in 09,10 & 11. There are certain politically powerful people (non Zimbabwean) that own some of these properties. I won't name the one I am thinking about in particular. However, this gentleman has MANY connections that have the ability to apply an awful lot of pressure to the Zim government. I have personally witnessed ambassadors from certain countries being flown in and taken hunting. These help reduce the likelihood that these idiots will be successful.

I have hunted Hammond in 09 and 10. It was an issue both years. I will speak with Alistair & Jonny on Monday just before I take them out to stick pigs with a knife!

Iemand moet 'n' bullet 'in daardie wit kaffers kop.

‘Black Jesus’ tastes own medicine
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Saturday, 11 February 2012 19:36

MASVINGO — When he became the first person in Zimbabwe to invade a
white-owned commercial farm that precipitated the violent land grab in 2000,
Francis Zimuto aka Black Jesus faced the easiest of all tasks.
He even staged a one-man march from Masvingo to Harare carrying a cross to
petition the British Queen, through its embassy in the capital city,
protesting against UK’s reluctance to fund the land reform programme.

But more than a decade later, Zimuto who is a trainer of the infamous Zanu
PF’s youth militia, known as Green Bombers, is tasting his own medicine
after at least 150 villagers from Chilonga communal lands descended on his
latest acquisition — Mteri Conservancy and Lodges in the Lowveld — demanding
a share.
He invaded the conservancy from the sugar conglomerate, Tongaat Hullet, the
parent company of Triangle and Hippo Valley on January 1 giving himself a
New Year present.

But barely a month later, Zimuto said he was being frustrated by the
villagers who invaded “his property”.

“Now I am facing a problem of squatters who have invaded the place and set
up camp, poaching the animals in the area and disturbing arrivals of
hunters.”
He said he was going to seek an eviction order from the courts.

Sucks, doesn't it!

what a mess...

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
‘Black Jesus’ tastes own medicine
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Saturday, 11 February 2012 19:36

MASVINGO — When he became the first person in Zimbabwe to invade a
white-owned commercial farm that precipitated the violent land grab in 2000,
Francis Zimuto aka Black Jesus faced the easiest of all tasks.
He even staged a one-man march from Masvingo to Harare carrying a cross to
petition the British Queen, through its embassy in the capital city,
protesting against UK’s reluctance to fund the land reform programme.

But more than a decade later, Zimuto who is a trainer of the infamous Zanu
PF’s youth militia, known as Green Bombers, is tasting his own medicine
after at least 150 villagers from Chilonga communal lands descended on his
latest acquisition — Mteri Conservancy and Lodges in the Lowveld — demanding
a share.
He invaded the conservancy from the sugar conglomerate, Tongaat Hullet, the
parent company of Triangle and Hippo Valley on January 1 giving himself a
New Year present.

But barely a month later, Zimuto said he was being frustrated by the
villagers who invaded “his property”.

“Now I am facing a problem of squatters who have invaded the place and set
up camp, poaching the animals in the area and disturbing arrivals of
hunters.”
He said he was going to seek an eviction order from the courts.

maybe Jesus should hask his Father for help. oh, that's right- Bob is busy elsewhere.

Jesus was known for sharing everything he had with others, so why is the Black Jesus complaining?