A black bishop and former prime minister has taken over a farm in Zimbabwe, forcing out its white Christian owners.

Abel Muzorewa, who was leader in 1979, moved his own staff on to Cavalla Farm near the city of Mutare, making 75 workers redundant.

The owner, Lodewyk van Rensburg, 55, had farmed the land since buying it in 1989.

Six years ago he voluntarily gave up 700 hectares of the 1,200-hectare site.

But four months ago 82-year-old Bishop Muzorewa – who was leader for a few months before losing an election to Robert Mugabe in 1980 – arrived with an official letter to take over.

Mr van Rensburg, a devout Christian who has two children, said: “Ultimately the Lord will judge what has happened.

“But it does make a mockery of his position as a man of the cloth.”

Bishop Muzorewa said: “I just wanted to have land which was taken from my forefathers without any recompense. It’s a correction of injustice.”

Mr van Rensburg and his wife Esther will go to court next month to try to evict the bishop.

(Source)