Mary Chiwenga, Vice President Gen Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, has grabbed the farm belonging to the Agriculture Rural Development Authority (Arda).

In an investigation which also quotes her directly, she is said to have even taken over the seeds at the 300-hectare property and armed men who are protecting the property said,

“Arda Seeds is(sic-are) no longer here; this is now the vice-president’s property”

The farm is located just outside Harare along Domboshawa Road and has for years been used to produce crop seed for farmers.

Another property near the place is used by the Ministry of Agriculture to develop the Zero Tillage technology.

A report in the weekly independent says Mary reportedly claimed that she wanted to build a school at the location after failing to get the property in 2013.

The report quotes a former worker who said,

“On 15 February, they took over Arda Seeds. Mary said to workers ‘this is our farm.’ It was not the first time that Chiwengas came to the farm. In 2013, they came and said they wanted to build a school.”

Mary Chiwenga hails herself as the Second Lady of Zimbabwe.

When she was contacted, she said the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Resettlement was fully aware of the matter. She said, “the best I can do is to direct you to the ministry. They know everything about this matter. You can speak to the director of lands.”