Grace Mugabe’s luxury Zimbabwe farm is invaded by locals mining for gold

Hundreds of villagers have invaded the farm of former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe’s wife to dig for gold, hurling abuse and destroying her fruit trees.

The 400 illegal miners hurled abuse at ‘Gucci’ Grace Mugabe when she confronted them demanding they leave the Smithfield compound, north of Harare, immediately.

Ms Mugabe’s state-of-the art irrigation system lay in ruins as the panners dug shafts, uprooted trees, and loaded gold into trucks for the unnamed Chinese miner. 

Hundreds of villagers have invaded the farm of former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace (pictured) to dig for gold, hurling abuse and destroying her fruit trees 

The 400 illegal miners (mine site pictured) hurled abuse at 'Gucci' Grace Mugabe when she confronted them demanding they leave

The 400 illegal miners (mine site pictured) hurled abuse at ‘Gucci’ Grace Mugabe when she confronted them demanding they leave

‘You don’t tell us to leave, we are just workers. Go and tell that to those who employed us,’ the miners shouted at her, according to NewsDay.

‘You no longer have any power to remove us. This is the new dispensation, we do what we want.’

The former first lady reported the invasion to Mazowe Police Station on Thursday after failing to kick the miners off the land.

‘I then asked them to stop their activities since I am the owner of the farm and I am the holder of a special grant for the whole area,’ her police statement read.

‘However, the crowd, which was being led by one known as Nyazvigo started to shout obscenities at me and continued with their unlawful activities.’

The former first lady reported the invasion to Mazowe Police Station on Thursday after failing to kick the miners off the land 

The former first lady reported the invasion to Mazowe Police Station on Thursday after failing to kick the miners off the land 

Two years ago Ms Mugabe illegally forced hundreds of villagers out of their homes, dumping them in the bush where they were forced to survive on guava and melons

Two years ago Ms Mugabe illegally forced hundreds of villagers out of their homes, dumping them in the bush where they were forced to survive on guava and melons

Ms Mugabe’s farm was once a no-go zone locked down by hundreds of police and soldiers when her husband was president.

Since he was ousted in January after a 37-year rule the property has been undefended and ‘become a playground’ for disaffected villagers.

Two years ago Ms Mugabe illegally forced hundreds of villagers out of their homes, dumping them in the bush where they were forced to survive on guava and melons and drink water by peeling tree bark.

The evictions took place despite the villagers winning several court orders allowing them to stay. They were only this year granted $30,000 compensation.

Ms Mugabe's farm was once a no-go zone locked down by hundreds of police and soldiers when her husband (pictured) was president

Ms Mugabe’s farm was once a no-go zone locked down by hundreds of police and soldiers when her husband (pictured) was president

Ms Mugabe angrily defended herself when NewsDay asked her for comment, claiming the incursion was a political plot.

‘Does it mean that if President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa is removed tomorrow, he will be disposed of his investments?’ she said of Mr Mugabe’s former deputy and successor.

‘Is this how he wants to be treated with his investments? This is politically motivated, as you can see that when we got there, they were singing kutonga kwaro garwe.’

Ms Mugabe was referencing a song closely associated with President Mnangagwa’s rise to power with the help of Zimbabwe’s military.



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