SOKWANELE
Enough is Enough
Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY
We have a fundamental right to freedom of expression!
Sokwanele reporter
05 June 2004
A 62 year old widow, Mrs Pat Campbell, was brutally beaten with sticks at her farm, Sutton Estate, in Banket yesterday. Her assailant was the rifle-wielding personal guard of Lt. General P.V. Sibanda. Mrs Campbell’s “crime” was being on the farm of which she is the lawful owner. In the attack the General’s side-kick pointed his AK 47 assault rifle at Mrs Campbell and her son Doug, threatening them both with instant death if they did not leave the farm at once. To emphasise the point the soldier whose rifle was aimed at their heads, cocked the weapon.
Earlier the same day three of Doug Campbell’s employees who had been helping dip Mrs Campbell’s cattle were ordered to kneel down and were severely beaten with sticks by the same assailant. When the beaten and bruised farm employees reported the assault to the local police station, the police refused to take any action. They would not even supply a report reference number.
Tragically Mrs Campbell’s husband, son-in-law and grandson were all killed in a motor accident five years ago. Since that time she has run their crops, game and cattle farm on her own. In August 2003 she won her High Court application challenging the validity of the Sections 5 and 8 notices served on her. Her legal action was unopposed.
In February Lt. General Sibanda posted four of his guards on Sutton Estate, two of whom were to monitor Mrs Campbell’s every move. They pitched their tent next to the fence right outside her bedroom window.
It is understood that Lt. General P.V. Sibanda was already in possession of a number of other farms before he turned his attention to Sutton Estate. How he squares this with the regime’s purported policy of “one man, one farm” is not known.
Following the brutal assault and death threats Mrs Campbell fled the property. She left behind her a number of in-calf cows and the equally vulnerable wild life in the game park. The few farm employees have also now fled for fear of further violent attack.
Pictures available on request.
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