Maravi

(NEW ERA NAMIBIA) Indigenous Group Hails Zimbabwe’s Land Reform

Indigenous Group Hails Zimbabwe’s Land Reform
- by Desie Heita
28 November 2008

WINDHOEK – Whatever judgment the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal delivers today, Zimbabwe’s Affirmative Action Group (AAG) wants the world to know that the land reform “was and still is the biggest empowerment exercise undertaken by the government of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980”. Land reform has given land to more than 400 000 households, land that once belonged to 3 000 white farmers.

The SADC Tribunal would deliver judgment today in the case between Michael and William Campbell, and 76 white Zimbabwean farmers, versus the government of Zimbabwe.

AAG representatives, who jetted into the country yesterday afternoon – additional representatives arrive today – would keenly listen to Tribunal Judge President Luis Mondlane as he delivers the judgment.

“It is our honourable prayer that the court takes cognisance of the need to build on our political stability and political cohesion that managed to manifest itself [in Zimbabwe],” said secretary general of AAG, Tafadzwa Musarara.

The AAG decided to be at the SADC Tribunal hearing to show solidarity and create the awareness that white farmers are merely seeking sympathy from the international community, thereby creating negative publicity about Zimbabwe.

“This thing is more political than legal,” said AAG deputy secretary, Tongai Kasukuwere.

AAG representatives, who include executive member Sydney Chidamba, emphasise that they are neither representing nor acting on behalf of the Zimbabwean government but on behalf of the indigenous Zimbabwean business people and farmers who form AAG.

The Campbells, together with other 76 white Zimbabwean farmers, want the SADC Tribunal to find Zimbabwe in breach of its obligations as a member of the regional bloc after it signed into law Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No 17 two years ago.

The amendment allows the government of Zimbabwe to seize white farmland – without compensation – for redistribution to landless blacks and bars courts from hearing appeals from dispossessed white farmers.

The white farmers have asked the tribunal to declare Zimbabwe’s land reforms racist and illegal under the SADC Treaty, adding that Article 6 of the treaty bars member states from discriminating against any person on the grounds of gender, religion, race, ethnic origin and culture.

AAG’s three executive members say white farmers are seeking to reverse the land reform process through the SADC Tribunal, creating the picture that whites cannot own land in Zimbabwe.

“They have not been told not to own land, whites are invited to apply for land, just like anybody else, through the procedures. There can be no special treatment because of the pigment of the skin,” said Kasukuwere, adding that there are white farmers who saw no problem with the system and are currently working together with government.
Musarara said challenging Zimbabwe’s land reform flies in the face of the need to indigenise land, a process which all Zimbabweans concur with, as reflected in the recent power-sharing agreement between the ruling party, ZANU-PF, and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations.

“Not only did land reform empower black farmers, it also indigenised all industries related to agrarian,” said Musarara.

The three executive members of AAG declined to comment on compensation, saying that they “do not want to be seen contributing towards that [grabbing land without any form of compensation],” and “it remains an issue best addressed by government.”

The three AAG executives also said the white farmers are within their rights to have approached the SADC Tribunal but the only problem is that the white farmers did not exhaust local procedures in Zimbabwe.

Musarara said the court challenge is simply an attempt to sway attention from the importance of land reform and on the need to empower resettled farmers to be productive, turning Zimbabwe into the breadbasket of the region, as it was before.

“We are wasting time on trivial matters,” said Musarara.

Kasukuwere said white farmers want payment for land gained centuries ago through the scramble for Africa. “Let us look at the past. What right do they have to say this is my land? There has to be full historical perspective,” said Kasukuwere.

Musarara said Zimbabwe is facing serious challenges of “reactivating the farms into productivity.” This is the challenge that deserves more attention than the tribunal hearing, in form of providing seed and agricultural implements to resettled farmers to produce food.

Labels: LAND REFORM, NAMIBIA

posted by MrK @ 3:19 PM