CIO Land Grab in Tourist Resorts Irks Zanu PF

Source: Zimbabwe Standard (Harare)

Date: 2 March 2008

Author: Kholwani Nyathi

A drive by security agents to take over tourist facilities in Matabeleland North has sparked fears this might cost the ruling party votes in this month's elections.

Since last year the Central Intelligence Organisation and the police have taken over three farms with prime tourist facilities in the province in controversial circumstances.

The latest to be taken over is the Chiefs' Lodge in the rich hunting area of Ntabazinduna, where early last month armed CIO operatives seized the keys to chalets and offices from the owners at gunpoint.

This reportedly angered Zanu PF heavyweights, especially after allegations the CIO operatives harassed a former aide to the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, Stanley Wolfenden.

He is also related to the owners of the lodge.

The CIO took over Induba Lodges whose ownership was being contested by publisher-turned-politician Ibbo Mandaza.

He is now co-ordinating independent presidential candidate, Simba Makoni's campaign.

Another facility, Portwe Estates in Bubi District, was taken over by armed police last year from a commercial farmer, David Joubert.

Floyd Ambrose, who has been running the Chiefs' Lodge since 2004 when its previous owner was forced to flee the violent land invasions, alleged the CIO took over the facility on 12 February.

"On 12 February, Mr Tachivei and Makoni from the President's Office, who were armed, arrived at the lodge and took the keys to all the chalets, which I don't think was right as we live in the property and this is further raising suspicion on the matter."

But the CIO were forced to return the keys two days later, after Matabeleland North governor, Sithokozile Mathuthu's intervention.

Operations have not resumed as eight armed CIO officers were deployed to guard the property. "We have eight armed operatives and an endless number of vehicles driving into the lodge on unknown business," Ambrose said.

Wolfenden, a former ZIPRA combatant, said after they took over the lodge, the CIO called him at his Nyamandlovu base, demanding he should report to Magnet House, the CIO headquarters in Bulawayo"within five minutes".

"They asked me about my relationship with Dumiso Dabengwa, John Nkomo and Joseph Msika, before releasing me," Wolfenden said. "This is not what we fought for and I warned them to stop harassing me because this is not the way a government is supposed to operate."

Matabeleland North provincial lands officer, Christopher Dube, told The Standard the Matabeleland North lands' committee had allocated the lodge to the President's Office.

"It was agreed by the lands' office that it should be allocated to the OPC (Office of the President)," he said. "There were deliberations between the OPC and the occupants on an exit plan, which I was not part of."