A Ngezi white farmer tried by traditional court

court

IN a rare case that has attracted widespread interest in Chegutu and its environs, a white commercial farmer last week appeared before a village court facing charges of malicious injury to property after his cattle destroyed a neighbour’s seed maize.

Mr Derek Visage was brought before Chief Ngezi of Mhondoro following a report that his cattle had strayed into Mr Edmore Matanhike’s field, destroying the crop worth more than US$1 000.

According to court information, the incident occurred on May 9 this year. Mr Matanhike confronted Mr Visage, who is said to have insulted him by asking whether he would have made a claim to God if wild pigs had destroyed the crop.

The angry farmer subsequently reported the matter to the chief, who summoned Mr Visage to court last Friday. Mr Visage was fined US$50 and a goat after he repeated the same insult in court. Judgment on the initial charge was deferred to pave way for the submission of comprehensive evidence.

Chief Ngezi, assisted by assessors Mr Shadreck Musonza, Mr Alford Makwiramiti and clerk of court Mr Killian Nyatsanga, said the white farmer was disrespectful of the court.

Chief Ngezi said an Agriculture and Extension Services (Agritex) report produced before the court showed that Mr Visage’s cattle had indeed destroyed Mr Matanhike’s crop.

“Before we even start dealing with this matter, you are being fined US$50 and a goat for uttering derogatory remarks before this court,’’ said the chief.
Mr Visage, who looked shaken as he sat on the ground, would not wait for questions from journalists, as he left the chief’s court in a huff. However, The Sunday Mail crew followed him to his farm for comment.

“Yes, I appeared before the chief and all was resolved. That is all I can say,’’ he said before returning to his office.

According to an Agritex assessment report dated May 12 2010, a total of 0,35 hectares was destroyed — either trampled or eaten by 20 cattle.
The report revealed that the farmer lost 1,225 tonnes of maize. Using the Grain Marketing Board rate of US$325 a tonne, the total loss stood at about US$458 per tonne.

This amount includes transport costs and fence repairs. The report recommended that Mr Visage should confine his cattle in paddocks and reduce his herd since he was grazing the beasts on other farmers’ plots.

Chief Ngezi deferred judgment and ordered that a second assessment report be compiled following suspicion that the first was tampered with. On the other hand, Mr Matanhike argued that his losses were calculated based on the price of commercial maize.

He also alleged that some farmers of European origin in the area influenced Agritex assessment reports. The court heard that Mr Visage’s cattle had also destroyed a field belonging to another farmer, Mr Gabriel Mutsindikwa. Mr Visage was summoned before the court but instead allegedly offered Mr Mutsindikwa US$945 in compensation