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Mashonaland West Bureau

The Zimbabwe Republic police has dismissed allegations of invasion and theft of potatoes from a farm in Banket.
A video of members of the community allegedly invading Strathmore Farm in Banket and stealing potatoes had gone viral.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the contents of the video were misleading as the farm manager invited members of the community to salvage damaged potatoes after harvesting.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police dismisses social media reports alleging that members of the community invaded the farm stealing potatoes,” said Comm Nyathi.

“The correct position is that the farm is owned by Retired High Court Judge Vernanda Cecil Ziyambi and is currently leased to Jonathan Timothy Mackwade for potato farming.”

Police investigations, he said, showed that harvesting went on for two weeks before ending on September 23, 2024.

The farm manager allowed farm workers and locals to pick up damaged potatoes from the field.

Comm Nyathi implored the public to desist from spreading falsehoods.