Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) White farmers up stakes in land dispute

White farmers up stakes in land dispute
by
10/01/2010 00:00:00

THE Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) claims there has seen a marked up-tick in “farm invasions” by President Robert Mugabe’s supporters in the new year adding efforts to attract international investment would come to naught unless the disturbances are stopped.

Some of the white farmers still on the ground are apparently ramping up publicity over the emotive land reforms in a bid to increase international pressure on the country’s inclusive government.

Zanu PF says there are no new farm seizures in the country and insists beneficiaries of its land reforms are simply moving onto legally acquired land which some of the white farmers have been refusing to leave.

Meanwhile, the CFU’s comments came at the same time a documentary titled “Mugabe and the White African” that is being described as “(demonstrating) one family's extraordinary courage in the face of a relentless campaign of state-sanctioned terror” has attracted widespread media attention in the United Kingdom and other western capitals.

The documentary was covertly shot in Zimbabwe and tells the story of Chegutu farmer Mike Campbell and his son-in-law, Ben Freeth who are refusing to vacate a property the government says it wants for resettlement.

The CFU which represents about 150 of the remaining 300 white farmers says the inclusive government has failed to act against “farm invasions” by supporters of President Mugabe.

"The new year has presented nothing but more troubles for farmers and it is a serious situation. Farmers would have preferred to be in the fields. But they are constantly being harassed.

"The police still fail to act on court orders protecting farmers, while the law is being abused to dispossess people of their property on the basis of race," CFU President Deon Theron said.

The CFU leader claimed that there has been a significant upsurge in the “invasions” since President Mugabe told his Zanu PF party congress last December that “white Zimbabweans” did not exist.

"We thought the formation of the coalition government was the beginning of democracy in terms of respect for property rights and rule of law, but the opposite is what is happening.

"This is counter-productive in a country that was beginning to show positive moves in its economy and has a negative impact in the re-engagement with the international community.

"No investor wants to put their money in a country that has no respect for property rights. What is really disturbing is that there is no prosecution of these people who are violating the law,” Theron said.

The CFU also alleged that Zanu PF secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa threatened Rusape-based farmer, Gavin Woest with death if he did not vacate his property.

But Mutasa dismissed the claims saying: "These white people create stories. I have not gone to America or Britain to look for land. I get my land in Zimbabwe which is my country. What is wrong with that?”

Labels: DEON THERON, DIDYMUS MUTASA, LAND REFORM, WHITE FARMERS

posted by MrK @ 8:26 AM