The Unleashing of Violence:
A report on violence in Zimbabwe
as at May 15, 2000

Contents    Violence on Commercial Farms     «   »

Section A
Violence on Commercial Farms

Assault on Iain Kay and killing of police officer
Iain Kay, 51, a tobacco grower, owns Chipesa farm outside Marondera. Five weeks ago war vets invaded his farm and built shacks but Kay demolished them. This angered the invaders. They gave him until Monday to rebuild their shacks. They attacked him when he failed to comply by the deadline.

Kay’s version of what happened is as follows: The attackers beat him with sticks, axe handles and fan belts tied on sticks. They also burnt his Honda 125 motorbike, stole his communications radio and cellphone. Then they tied his hands with wire and demanded to be taken to his house to see how many guns he had. As they walked towards the house, they changed their mind and took him into a nearby bush threatening to kill him. Meanwhile one of Kay’s workers, Stan Millward, alerted the farm manager and Kay’s son of the ongoing assault. As Kay’s son, David, drove towards the assailants, Kay unshackled himself and dived into a nearby dam. The mob encircled the dam, throwing stones and sticks each time he came up for air. On seeing Kay’s son, the mob ran away and Kay was immediately rushed to hospital. The police immediately arrested two suspects, one of whom was armed.

On 4 April a police officer was shot dead. According to police contacted, Constable Tinashe Chakwenda was one of several officers who arrested "war veterans" in connection with the severe beating of Iain Kay, an MDC supporter whose farm had been occupied. Those arrested were released on arrival at Marondera police station. The following day Constable Chakwenda was shot dead while riding his bicycle to work. One of the "war veterans" who had previously been arrested in connection with the Iain Kay incident was then arrested over Constable Chakwenda’s murder.

It is believed that the police officer was shot dead in the vicinity of the Kay farm where he was riding his bicycle. He was apparently shot twice. The suspicion is that the policeman was shot and killed by war veterans

Assault on Gerald Smith  TOP
A farmer in Karoi received six stitches from a blow to the back of his head by a war vet wielding a knobkerrie as he fought with another war vet for control of his own 303 rifle.

Gerald Smith and his wife Paula of Nyarenda Farm locked the gate to the garden of their farmhouse at 6.30 on Sunday evening to keep war vets out. (Sunday 19 March?) According to David Rockingham-Gill, Commercial Farmers Union regional executive for Mashonaland West (North), Smith warned the vets not to enter the fence perimeter and this provoked them. "About 50" then smashed the lock of the gate and entered. Paula and Gerald ran back into the house, where Paula grabbed the 303. Gerald intervened, reasoning that two people shooting at a crowd of 50 angry people with one bolt action rifle wasn’t prudent. But he then became involved in a struggle against a vet who tried to wrest the rifle from Paula. Another vet hit him on the back of the head with a knobkerrie. He was beaten about the back and shoulders and bruised very badly and had to go to hospital. He was later discharged from hospital.

Assault on Tim Swanson  TOP
During the first week in April Tim Swanson who has a farm at Hwedza was severely kicked and beaten by a group of eight war veterans on his farm. He was attacked after he refused to give mealie meal to the war veterans who had claimed that their own mealie meal had been eaten by his cattle. He was pulled off his tractor and whipped him with a stick and then kicked and punched for about 30 minutes when he was on the ground. Swanson said he sat on the ground with his head in his hands not knowing who was going to hit him next. Whenever he tried to get up he was pushed to the ground. The war veterans said they were going to take him to the gum trees and kill him. They said: "Do you think it’s your farm?" Swanson’s workers watched while he was being assaulted. The attack ended when a policeman on patrol approached although one of the invaders continued to kick Swanson. However, the policeman then intervened and took details of the incident. Swanson and the policeman then contacted the police station and the police Support Unit moved in. Swanson was taken to Marondera hospital for medical treatment.

Assault on Adrian Herud  TOP
A farmer was beaten and his wife was threatened. The persons concerned were Adrian and Marion Herud at a friend's house. Yesterday, about 80 people occupied their farm. They were with another white farmer and his wife at the time. For several hours, they were intimidated to the point they found it difficult describing what had happened without breaking down.

"I was beaten hard on the side of my head and lost consciousness briefly," said Adrian Herud. "When I came round, they made me write apologies to Mugabe. 'Do you know who Mugabe is?' 'Yes.' Bang! 'President Mugabe?' 'Yes, I know. He's my president, too.' Bang! I'm sorry." "Lionel's wife kept on saying, 'They've hit him again, they've hit him again,' but I couldn't watch," said Marion Herud. The Heruds constantly needed to reassure each other. After the beatings, he had been forced to shout slogans in favour of President Mugabe, an act intended to humiliate him in front of his farm workers. Then the women were taken from the house. "They pushed us into the centre of the circle, until we danced," said Marion. "We were forced to dance. We were threatened."  TOP