Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Tanzania Invades Banana Plantation
Mutare, January 06, 2010 – Retired former army chief, Major General Edzai Chimonyo, who is Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Tanzania, has invaded a banana plantation in Burma Valley, east of Mutare, which is owned by Malaysian investors in a move that may upset investment relations with the Asian Tiger.
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Chimonyo led by a group of armed soldiers is said to have moved into the banana plantation owned by Matanuska and immediately started to harvest ripe bananas, whose value has not yet been ascertained.
Matanuska, a major banana exporter, is owned by Malaysian investors and the business falls under the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA).
However, Chimonyo has refused to recognize that status and is insisting he was legally allocated the plantation in 2006 by the then lands minister, Didymus Mutasa.
“Chimonyo is here and has taken over the plantation,” said a worker from Matanuska. “Armed soldiers are all over the plantation.”
There was no immediate comment from Chimonyo but officials from Matanuska had approached the High Court seeking his immediate eviction from the plantation.
There was talk that the Malaysian government had approached the Zimbabwean government to formally complain about the invasion of the plantations.
Sources said soldiers had already begun harvesting the bananas and selling them to various outlets in Mutare.
Additional Reporting:~ Radio VOP
Posted by Dave Fish Eagle
on January 6, 2010. Filed under Local News.
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