The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) has condemned the brutal attack on Darwendale farmer David Passapoorts and his wife Anne at the Chirawanoo game farm by unknown assailants last week, saying this further tarnished the image of the country.
BY TARISAI MANDIZHA
CFU president Charles Taffs said the incident comes in the wake of an increase in poisoning and poaching of wildlife in the area and the slaughter of a giraffe last Sunday.
He said the development demonstrated the continued insecurity that farmers, their families and business operations face in the commercial farming sector.
“It is with deep concern that we note and condemn the serious assault of a young farmer and his wife at a game farm in the Zvimba district on the night of 19th August 2014,” Taffs said.
“The Commercial Farmers’ Union and its members stand ready to assist wherever needed in this difficult time and offer their most sincere support and prayers for the family and wish both the farmer, who suffered a serious head injury and his wife who sustained broken bones and a damaged arm, a full recovery from this savage attack.”
Sources said they suspect the attack could have been politically motivated as it came shortly after top Zanu PF officials in Mashonaland West province had threatened to evict the remaining white farmers.
Taffs said both David and Anne were still battling for their lives in hospital. David sustained severe head injuries and was in the intensive care unit waiting to undergo surgery at a private hospital in Harare.
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Taffs said the incident was one of many which have occurred but none of the cases have been solved or brought to justice.
“We call on the authorities to do all that is possible to speedily apprehend those responsible for this crime. We further encourage our country’s leadership to encourage restoration of an environment of peace, security and prosperity where all citizens can look to the institutions of law and order and the police in particular with the anticipation that they will fulfil their obligations to the public in accordance with all the noble values enshrined in their charter,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Chief Superintended Paul Nyati were fruitless as his mobile number was not being answered.
