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Three Farmers Challenge Zimbabwe Court's 24-Hour Eviction Order


Commercial Farmers Union President Deon Theron said three farmers filed an urgent application Wednesday asking the court to block their evictions, though the farms have already fallen into the hands of invaders

Lawyers for three white commercial farmers in Chipinge have appealed to the High Court in Harare following an order issued by a Manicaland magistrate giving the farmers 24 hours to vacate their farms.

Commercial Farmers Union President Deon Theron said the farmers filed an urgent application Wednesday asking the court to block their evictions.

The matter remained before the court late Wednesday while the farms were said to have been occupied by invaders believed to be ZANU-PF supporters.

Theron said the Chipinge Magistrates Court fined each farmer US$800 for refusing to vacate and ordered a fourth to leave his farm in 30 days.

Theron told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that the three farmers ordered to leave their land had fled to Harare as their properties had fallen into the hands of marauding gangs believed to be ZANU-PF youth militia.

Theron also also criticized the Harare High Court’s refusal to register a ruling by the Namibia-based Southern African Development Community tribunal ordering the Zimbabwe government to halt farm takeovers.

“It's surprising that the High Court is of the opinion that it respects SADC protocols but then it can’t register the SADC tribunal ruling,” he said.

Farmers registration of the ruling after the Zimbabwe government ignored it and continued to evict white commercial farmers and seize their property.

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