Ayoub mzee with First African Farmer in the UK David Manaka WHILE Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe drove white commercial farmers off their properties and farms in Zimbabbwe, a black Zimbabwean is enjoying success on a British farm as the only second Black farmer in Britain.
Off the M25 motorway in London's Enfield is a leased farm which journalist turned farmer, David Mwanaka, has modelled into a thriving market place of Zimbabwean agri-products.
Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods is the proud supplier of white maize, a rarity in the United Kingdom where farmers are encouraged to grow yellow maize for stock feed.
Home sick Zimbabwean exiles are also turning to Mwanaka for pumpkin leaves (muboora/ibhobola), rape, choumoellier, tsunga and butternuts.
He says on his company's website: "Growing up in Zimbabwe, I loved eating white maize so much that it was the only food I missed when I came to Britain in 1991. I couldn't stand eating yellow maize, and that's how I started thinking of leasing a farm."
Soon enough, Mwanaka was experimenting by growing white maize in his back garden. With white maize cultivation virtually non-existent in the UK, Mwanaka used his back garden to carry out a series of experiments over a period of six years, with an eye on growing white maize on a commercial scale.
"In the first year of growing white maize, the crop grew so tall that when a neighbour's child kicked a ball into the maize crop, he came to my wife and asked if he could go into the 'forest' to look for his ball," he remembers.
Unfortunately, the maize never matured on the first year. Agricultural experts rubbed it in as they told Mwanaka that white maize does not grow to maturity in Britain. Yet he was determined to grow and eat white maize IN BRITAIN.
"I placed adverts in a few local papers looking for land to lease and the response was dismal, but the advert caught the eye of a journalist from the Guardian newspaper who was intrigued by the story of a Zimbabwean looking for land in Britain.
"After the Guardian did the story, there was increased interest and a farmer gave me a call offering part of his farm and I haven't looked back," he said.
Mwanaka is willed on in the pursuit of his dream by his wife Brenda, and their three children: Jonathan, Ruth and Miriam.
Said Mwanaka: "Our customers can make direct orders by telephone and expect deliveries but many now prefer to come and pick their orders fresh from the farm which feels natural."VISIT: Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods
Off the M25 motorway in London's Enfield is a leased farm which journalist turned farmer, David Mwanaka, has modelled into a thriving market place of Zimbabwean agri-products.
Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods is the proud supplier of white maize, a rarity in the United Kingdom where farmers are encouraged to grow yellow maize for stock feed.
Home sick Zimbabwean exiles are also turning to Mwanaka for pumpkin leaves (muboora/ibhobola), rape, choumoellier, tsunga and butternuts.
He says on his company's website: "Growing up in Zimbabwe, I loved eating white maize so much that it was the only food I missed when I came to Britain in 1991. I couldn't stand eating yellow maize, and that's how I started thinking of leasing a farm."
Soon enough, Mwanaka was experimenting by growing white maize in his back garden. With white maize cultivation virtually non-existent in the UK, Mwanaka used his back garden to carry out a series of experiments over a period of six years, with an eye on growing white maize on a commercial scale.
"In the first year of growing white maize, the crop grew so tall that when a neighbour's child kicked a ball into the maize crop, he came to my wife and asked if he could go into the 'forest' to look for his ball," he remembers.
Unfortunately, the maize never matured on the first year. Agricultural experts rubbed it in as they told Mwanaka that white maize does not grow to maturity in Britain. Yet he was determined to grow and eat white maize IN BRITAIN.
"I placed adverts in a few local papers looking for land to lease and the response was dismal, but the advert caught the eye of a journalist from the Guardian newspaper who was intrigued by the story of a Zimbabwean looking for land in Britain.
"After the Guardian did the story, there was increased interest and a farmer gave me a call offering part of his farm and I haven't looked back," he said.
Mwanaka is willed on in the pursuit of his dream by his wife Brenda, and their three children: Jonathan, Ruth and Miriam.
Said Mwanaka: "Our customers can make direct orders by telephone and expect deliveries but many now prefer to come and pick their orders fresh from the farm which feels natural."VISIT: Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods
London, 26th 11.2009
To
Mr Dominic Clout Chief Superintendent Borough Commander Camden PoliceCI : The Right Honourable Gordon Brown Prime Minister of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland10 Downing StLondon, UK
To the Honourable the Secretary of State Foreign OfficeLondon, UKTo the Honourable Secretary of State Home OfficeLondon, UK
Statement of Complaint to Camden Police StationName Of Person Making Complaint- Professor Rev. Julien Ciakudia, national president UPRCapacity of Complainant- I am an International lobbyist, Anglican pastor, Founder and Chairman of an International Organization; Freedom Flag Foundation (FFF).
I am also a political opposition Leader in Congo currently Domiciled in U.K. and President of a Political Party; Union of Patriot Resistants for the Total Liberation of DR Congo (UPR).
Complaint Against : Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi, New Congolese ambassador to the UK.
Date of Incident: 25th November 2009 / 11am-5pmPlace of incidence:
The Vicinity of 281 Grays inn Rd- Congolese embassy
Complaint:On the said day, I was present at the demonstration of The Congolese community against the Political occupation Power in DR Congo by Rwanda, Uganda and by fabricated Political Leaders at the Summit of state in Congo. We had obtained Official permission and were observing our democratic right to peaceful and lawful demonstration.We have taken to account the respect of the rule of law and the presence of the police to enforce law and Order during the demonstration.We were shocked to witness on the day a group of 50 ‘Vigilante youth’ known to the Congolese community as troublemakers and (possibly to the Police) identified as drafted in from Brixton and Tottenham.
It is also our understanding that Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi and his Administration secured and paid for the services of these vigilante youth who are known criminals.These youths were dressed in red T shirts as a symbol of blood and warfare; armed with knives and allegedly under the influence of drugs .This a familiar tactic deployed by Mr Kikaya and the political regime in DRC to intimidate by fear and violence. In effect to eradicate the democratic and human rights of political opposition to their human rights abuses in DR CONGO.
The introduction and use of such tactics by Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi as new Ambassador to UK, is deplored and if not dealt with will trigger social unrest within the Congolese Community here in U.K.
Deployment of such tactics against innocent civilian population has already resulted in masses of Congolese people fleeing Congo in fear of reprisals and to seek protection for their lives. Many have fled here to U.K seeking Political Asylum and refuge. It follows that the demonstration was also directly against the continued presence here in U.K. of Mr Kikaya who is well known as a perpetrator of Human Rights abuse, brutality and political and economical crimes in DR Congo. it is our perception that Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi has been Posted here to U.K to further taunt , hunt and silence his victims.
On the day, we made a verbal report to Police Inspector Daniel O’Connor who witnessed and acknowledged the presence of these 50 vigilante youth. Police Inspector O’Connor confirmed that he had made a report to the authorities for action. We requested that they are searched for offensive weapons; we were informed that this could not be done for diplomatic reasons. We stressed that the presence of the ‘Criminal Youths’ at the Official authorized demonstration was provocative, inflammatory and was meant to disrupt and undermine our peaceful protest. Please keep us updated on the outcome of the Police inspector’s report and any action. We call on you on behalf of All Concerned Congolese Community to investigate this disturbing incident and new development.
If necessary, we are prepared to provide further Dossier and documentation.For Union of Patriot Resistants for the Total Liberation of Congo (UPR)Prof. Rev. Julien CiakudiaNational PresidentContact number: 07947941157
e-mai.: ciakudia@hotmail.com or upr.ltcongo@gmail.com
To
Mr Dominic Clout Chief Superintendent Borough Commander Camden PoliceCI : The Right Honourable Gordon Brown Prime Minister of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland10 Downing StLondon, UK
To the Honourable the Secretary of State Foreign OfficeLondon, UKTo the Honourable Secretary of State Home OfficeLondon, UK
Statement of Complaint to Camden Police StationName Of Person Making Complaint- Professor Rev. Julien Ciakudia, national president UPRCapacity of Complainant- I am an International lobbyist, Anglican pastor, Founder and Chairman of an International Organization; Freedom Flag Foundation (FFF).
I am also a political opposition Leader in Congo currently Domiciled in U.K. and President of a Political Party; Union of Patriot Resistants for the Total Liberation of DR Congo (UPR).
Complaint Against : Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi, New Congolese ambassador to the UK.
Date of Incident: 25th November 2009 / 11am-5pmPlace of incidence:
The Vicinity of 281 Grays inn Rd- Congolese embassy
Complaint:On the said day, I was present at the demonstration of The Congolese community against the Political occupation Power in DR Congo by Rwanda, Uganda and by fabricated Political Leaders at the Summit of state in Congo. We had obtained Official permission and were observing our democratic right to peaceful and lawful demonstration.We have taken to account the respect of the rule of law and the presence of the police to enforce law and Order during the demonstration.We were shocked to witness on the day a group of 50 ‘Vigilante youth’ known to the Congolese community as troublemakers and (possibly to the Police) identified as drafted in from Brixton and Tottenham.
It is also our understanding that Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi and his Administration secured and paid for the services of these vigilante youth who are known criminals.These youths were dressed in red T shirts as a symbol of blood and warfare; armed with knives and allegedly under the influence of drugs .This a familiar tactic deployed by Mr Kikaya and the political regime in DRC to intimidate by fear and violence. In effect to eradicate the democratic and human rights of political opposition to their human rights abuses in DR CONGO.
The introduction and use of such tactics by Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi as new Ambassador to UK, is deplored and if not dealt with will trigger social unrest within the Congolese Community here in U.K.
Deployment of such tactics against innocent civilian population has already resulted in masses of Congolese people fleeing Congo in fear of reprisals and to seek protection for their lives. Many have fled here to U.K seeking Political Asylum and refuge. It follows that the demonstration was also directly against the continued presence here in U.K. of Mr Kikaya who is well known as a perpetrator of Human Rights abuse, brutality and political and economical crimes in DR Congo. it is our perception that Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi has been Posted here to U.K to further taunt , hunt and silence his victims.
On the day, we made a verbal report to Police Inspector Daniel O’Connor who witnessed and acknowledged the presence of these 50 vigilante youth. Police Inspector O’Connor confirmed that he had made a report to the authorities for action. We requested that they are searched for offensive weapons; we were informed that this could not be done for diplomatic reasons. We stressed that the presence of the ‘Criminal Youths’ at the Official authorized demonstration was provocative, inflammatory and was meant to disrupt and undermine our peaceful protest. Please keep us updated on the outcome of the Police inspector’s report and any action. We call on you on behalf of All Concerned Congolese Community to investigate this disturbing incident and new development.
If necessary, we are prepared to provide further Dossier and documentation.For Union of Patriot Resistants for the Total Liberation of Congo (UPR)Prof. Rev. Julien CiakudiaNational PresidentContact number: 07947941157
e-mai.: ciakudia@hotmail.com or upr.ltcongo@gmail.com
