Matabeleland farm violence
Richard Pascall (51) and two friends, Timothy Lamprecht (40) and Jonathan Johnson (60) were yesterday arrested on charges of attempted murder in Inyathi, Matabeleland. These arrests followed the incident on Gourlays Farm yesterday morning when farmers and war veterans exchanged gunfire. One settler was injured in the skirmish by a bullet, which is said to have glanced off the back of his head. The war veterans were only charged with using abusive language. Pascall was called to talk to a group of settlers at his gate yesterday morning and whilst he was informing them that he was packing to leave the farm, he was attacked from behind by a group of persons who had entered through a back gate. Pascall was manhandled and the group attempted to strike him with an axe and handcuff him. He called for assistance as his life had been threatened the night before and he thought they group would kill him. Two friends came to his aid by firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd. Pandemonium broke out and the 60 to 80 strong mob scuttled back and forth, it is in this fracas that Pascall feels the person was injured in the crossfire. Speaking just before he was taken into custody, Pascall said, "They are charging us with attempted murder. It is said that someone was shot in the incident this morning. I was fearful for my life after a war veteran, Vote Ndlovu, threatened me in the presence of the officer in charge, Desmond Dube. Ndlovu said to me in a local dialect, 'Ngizakungcwaba' meaning 'I will bury you'."
The farm, Gourlays is a wildlife conservancy with 30 black rhino resident. The Rhino are state owned. The farm is the only farm owned by the Pascall's. It is also a registered conservancy, and a Zimbabwe Investment Centre project. Events began to unfold some weeks back when two male Rhinos fought for territory - one died from injuries. A report was made to National Parks, with both the horn and skin being surrendered to Parks officials. Several incidents have occurred since then with attempts to evict the farmer. The mob that live in building close to the farm entrance, insisted that farm workers leave and twenty-nine have since left. Normal routines and patrols have not been permitted and Rhino and other wildlife will soon run out of water. Horses and Ostrich have also been released from paddocks and are roaming wild. At about 10am on Friday 5th April, war vets arrived at the house at the farm and more war vets were outside the gate, they demanded that Mrs Pascall take a person who had been attacked by one of the Ostrich to hospital. She called an ambulance but declined to pay the fees, this resulted in further harassment and death threats. This was reported to Inspector Dube at the Inyathi police station at about 1 o'clock.
A larger crowd of war vets began assembling at the house and the police eventually arrived at 7 pm with Mr Pascall. Police invited seven of the war vets who were armed with sticks and knobkerries to go into the house to negotiate. However negotiations were not fruitful as the war vets screamed abuse at the Pascall's, threatening to kill both Mr and Mrs Pascall. There was no reaction from the Police to this abuse, with the Officer in charge describing it as 'Political sayings'. Eventually at about 10 pm, the situation was defused and the Police left with the war veterans. Pascall was called to the gate at 7am on Friday morning by a group of about 40 war veterans. Although he assured them that he was packing to leave, they were abusive and threatened to smash the gate down. Another group broke a rear gate lock and came in to ambush Pascall from behind, attempting to handcuff and axe him. His life was saved by firing of shots into the air by Johnson and Lamprecht. The three managed to escape to the house under fire from various weapons including rocks shot from catapults. Members of the Police Support Unit arrived and were able to prevent further incident. Pascall and his friends were then charged with attempted murder. Mrs Pascall has since left the farm along with the remaining three staff. National Parks have since sent scouts on site to ensure the safety of the wildlife. Legal representatives are hopeful to secure a court hearing on Monday.
Zimbabwe 'veterans' lay siege to wildlife treasure
JACQUI GODDARD IN BULAWAYO
RICHARD Pascall never thought that he would be targeted by Zimbabwe's war veterans. He had bought his land at market rates while Robert Mugabe was in office, and the land was no use for farming.
His wildlife park attracted tourists and was a sanctuary for the endangered black-horned rhino, yet he is the latest victim of Mugabe's "war veterans", who attacked him and forced him from his land earlier this month.
Since Mugabe won the presidential elections in March, 150 landowners have been evicted from their farms and hundreds of opposition activists forced into hiding.
"Things have actually escalated since the election." said Pascall, who has moved with his wife Carol and teenage daughter Juliet to a temporary home in Bulawayo.
"None of us can actually understand why. What's the point of crushing this country and its people, its wildlife, its economy and its future?"
Under threat from a group of around 50 so-called 'war veterans' and Zanu-PF youth activists, whose leader told him he would not rest until they had put him in a grave, Pascall fled Gourlays Ranch earlier this month after a fierce confrontation in which his attackers came close to succeeding.
Pascall says one man tried to handcuff him while others attacked him with an axe, a spear and a flail. A friend, Johnny Johnson, drove back the attackers by firing into the air with his rifle before himself coming under attack from rocks and metal bolts.
But when the police arrived, they accused Pascall, Johnson and a third man, Tim Lamprecht, of having shot one of the crowd in the head.
They were taken to the police station, charged with attempted murder and spent two nights in the cells before being granted bail. They appeared in court again last week.
The 50,000 acres of land at Gourlays Ranch is a recognised wildlife conservancy, home to thousands of animals including elephants, leopards, sables and kudus. The ranch also has 30 black-horned rhinos, 10% of Zimbabwe 's population of the animal.
"We cannot afford to see wildlife like this harmed by politics - and I don't just mean financially," Pascall said.
"What will happen to these animals now? It is our duty to protect them and I have done my best, but in the end it won't be down to me."