Zimbabwe family lose farm to a UK doctor

After months besieged on their farm at Centenary, 20 police armed with AK 47s on Friday forcibly evicted Phillip Rankin and his wife.

The farm has long been coveted by British medical practitioner Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro and his wife Veronica, who are reported to be connected to Grace Mugabe. Mrs Nyatsuro is alleged to have planted invaders on the farm when she was over last year on a visit from the UK.

Zimbabwe human rights campaigner Ben Freeth said the police had shown no legal documents to justify their action, whichcomes while court proceedings are still going on. He said he had advised MrRankin to quote section 74 of the constitution which says no person may be evicted from their home without a court order. ‘The police just laughed at them’.

The police refused access to lawyers acting for Mr Rankin, loaded his furniture onto lorries along with Mr Rankin and drove off. We understand he was later released. Freeth added: ‘Despite the drought the Rankins are in the middle of harvesting wonderful crops this season. A message from another observer said: it’s the end of the month so who pays the workers, what happens to them now?’


Source: The Times
Tue 2 Feb 2016 at 08:20