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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
JUDGMENT in the case of Beitbridge West commercial farmer George Victor Watson who allegedly shot at five villagers whom he found herding cattle at his parents’ Double O Ranch in Makhadho has been set for October 19. The 10,000 hectare farm was divided into two sections — 2,000 hectares remained with his parents while the rest was allocated to locals.

A long standing dispute has been raging between Watson and the villagers in Siyoka area over what they deem to be his unrepentant colonial behaviour. At one point, Watson set dogs on two boys from the area he found herding cattle at the farm.

In another incident, he allegedly ran over seven shacks at the farm belonging to his workers using his Toyota Land cruiser as punishment after accusing them of letting livestock from nearby villages graze on his farm. Six people escaped with minor injuries in that incident.

Watson, who was arrested in March over the shooting incident, was charged with contravening a section of the Firearms Act by negligently or recklessly discharging a firearm.

The farmer vehemently denied the charges when his trial commenced before Beitbridge Magistrate Innocent Bepura.

For the state, Foster Abheki said on March 28, Watson found five villagers from Siyoka area; Unity Ndou, Zenzo Moyo, Adonis Shoko, Trust Mudau and Itai Dube collecting their cattle from his farm. The cattle had come to drink water at Mwagwamazi Dam.

Armed with a rifle, he approached them and accused them of trespassing.

He allegedly shot at the villagers five times, but no one was injured.

The villagers fled and made a police report and Watson was arrested on the same day.