CADRES DEFY COURT ORDER
…as they raid Lusaka West farm, demarcate plots
SUSPECTED Patriotic Front cadres have defied a court order and raided a farm in Barlastone, Lusaka West, and almost beat up the owner, Mr Webster Mhango. The invasion is in defiance of a court order granted to Mr Mhango last year restraining the cadres from harassing him. The cadres want to demarcate the farm illegally. The cadres claim that farm No. F/693/A/28 in Barlastone, Lusaka West does not belong to Mr Mhango but is owned by another person. Although the case is in court, the cadres have now started building on the plots illegally created on the farm on Sunday last week with threats that they would kill the entire family if they ever tried to stop them. Yesterday, the cadres went to the farm in large numbers and started ferrying sand in readiness for construction while others were digging a foundation on one of the plots which is believed to have been sold to an unsuspecting customer whom they are now giving security from the owners. When Mr. Mhango approached them, they roughed him up, lifted him in the air and took him to their vehicle in readiness to take him to an unknown place before one of them received a call. After a long conversation, they decided to let him go but continued ferrying sand and digging the foundation. Speaking to the Daily Nation soon after his ordeal, Mr. Mhango said the cadres were claiming to have the blessing of a named senior government official and that the court case was going nowhere as they had connections. They also told him that even if he reported the matter to police on Tuesday, the case would not go anywhere. “This case is in court and there is a restraining order to that effect. Their recent attack on me was reported to Matero police but none has been arrested yet,” Mr Mhango said. He said “this is my land and proof to ownership of land is by an offer letter or title and I have title which I have shown to the Minister of Lands when she came here.” He wondered why the cadres who were causing havoc with impunity were let loose, and identified the cadres who have been in the forefront tormenting his family. “They are intruding on my private property but no one seems to care. These cadres have the blessing of some people within the PF and they have said it openly that they have been sent by the Lusaka DC,” Mr Mhango said. Efforts to get a comment from the Capt. Mulenga proved futile as he could not be reached on his mobile phone. On January 3 this year, Minister of Lands Jean Kapata visited the farm on a fact-finding mission after cadres claimed to have been given permission by her office to start farming on the farm without permission from the owner. But after hearing from both parties, Ms. Kapata asked for time so that her office could verify its records.