SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
23 September 2009
The commercial farming community is lamenting predictions of yet another failed agricultural season, as the countrywide wave of farm attacks continues.
The US based Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) has warned that food stocks will be depleted this month, mainly in western Zimbabwe, where some two million people are set to face hunger. FEWSNET issued a special report this month saying the availability of food in Zimbabwe could diminish sharply from October to December, with only a maximum of 1.4 million metric tonnes of cereals available during those months, compared with the more than 2 million tonnes needed to meet Zimbabwe's basic food needs.
The worrying assessment comes as commercials farmers themselves have warned that a failed farming season is on the cards, as a direct result of the renewed offensive to drive farmers from their land. Since the formation of the unity government in February there has been an intensified wave of attacks on commercial land owners, by thugs working for top ZANU PF loyalists, all in the name of land 'reform'. Farmers and their workers have been physically and brutally attacked, valuable produce and equipment has been stolen, and the fast-track prosecution of farmers in the country's courts has been encouraged. This year alone, more than 80 farms have been seized, at least 200 farmers have faced prosecution and thousands of farm workers have lost their jobs.
Deon Theron, the President of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), told SW Radio Africa that the country is "on a knife edge and facing a very difficult failed season of crops." He voiced his frustration that commercial farming is being deliberately halted, despite the desperate need for food in a country that has been rated as the most food-aid dependent country in the world. At the same time, Chegutu farmer Ben Freeth, who has endured some of the worst violence and intimidation on his land, told SWRA that the country is heading for "the very worst agricultural season ever."
All in all more than 6 000 farms, totalling 10.8-million hectares, have been seized by the state since the land 'reform' programme got underway in 2000. Most of these farms were 'awarded' to Robert Mugabe's family and comrades, many of whom now 'own' multiple farms. Once the pride of sub-Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe's farming sector has shrunk alarmingly. In 2000 Zimbabwe produced two million tons of maize, but this was down to 450 000 tons last year. Tobacco production has plummeted from 244 000 tons to 40 000 tons. The number of commercial farmers has shrunk radically from 4 500 in 2000 to 400.
But despite these numbers that provide proof of Zimbabwe's economic destruction, by way of land 'reform', the land grab campaign has intensified, to satisfy what even the MDC has called the 'greed' of ZANU PF 'bigwigs'. SWRA Correspondent Simon Muchemwa, who this week toured farms to see for himself the extent of the fresh wave of farm attacks, said on Thursday the situation resembled a 'disaster'.
"There is an obvious intensified effort by ZANU PF youths and ZANU PF officials and the police to grab what productive land they can," Muchemwa said, explaining the use of fake offer letters has become rampant, particularly in Mashonaland. He explained further that the majority of farms he visited are lying untended and barren.
"Farmers are predicting a huge agricultural loss, because when the rains come, the land won't be ready," Muchmwa said. "Their (the farmers) attitude is to wait and see what will happen during the rains."
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 SW Radio Africa. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
It looks like the zanuobos are engaged in a mission of returning all land back to the natives ( mostly themselves) of Zimbabwe. This will show up the arrogant white rhoadies who took the most productive land ( and made the country the envy of Africa) from their ancestors. It will show, once and for all, that africans are able to handle their own affairs. The fact that the land will now only support about one fifth of the population is of no matter. Turning productive farmland back into scrub bush. is not easy; it takes special skills to run a farm into the ground in one season. Im sure the boyz are up to the task. Good luck getting any serious money from obamma; he's busy right now.
i think we should grab all the remaining land and put this matter to rest. How did these few remaining farmers retain their farms up to this moment. Come on comrades go for the remaining boers and settle this matter once and for all.
This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.
the boyz are so damn good at working the land...(if they managing to get an average of one spoon of rice per week in 5000sqm they deserve a price).. the Mgabe Boyz are really good killers,thiefs,lyars,etc..but that is just about!!!!
Mugabe is clealy an absolute MAD DOG..cant people understand that with this man there are no talks and promises,there is not a soul inside that broken peece of a MAN!!!!! i personaly think that the outside world shud stop any support for them..the same way that USA went to Iraq for petrol and GWBush took down Saddam wy not do th same with Zimbabwe?they have Diamonds,Tabbacco,etc..and belive me,wen in iraq and afganistan th troops are fight th resistence of some unhappy terrorist in Zimbabwe you will be amazed by th help you will get back from those genuine people. Mugabe thinks that is a good move to say something horrible as that to thcountry,appart from th ignorant tug ho cant hardly speak i am affraid to say that you are ALONE...they cant stand for you,soon as someone comes to the country and this poor people how life shud be lived you will be history..
See all comments (35).
Active Discussions: Zimbabwe Govt Probes Land Invasions