SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
12 November 2009
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Beleaguered Chegutu farmer Ben Freeth has written yet another appeal to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, to urgently intervene in the ongoing land invasions across the country.
The letter is Freeth's fourth public written appeal since the renewed offensive against the remaining commercial farming community started picking up speed earlier this year, not long after the formation of the unity government in February. The Prime Minister is yet to respond to, or even acknowledge, any of the letters and has instead previously dismissed the land attacks as isolated 'disturbances'. His 'state of denial' that Freeth has accused the Prime Minister of, has persisted, despite mounting warnings that the current land-grab campaign will be detrimental to the future of agriculture in the country.
Farm seizures in the country have intensified with complete impunity this year, in what Freeth has called 'controlled anarchy'. He explained how well-connected officials and ZANU PF loyalists have been claiming their share of Robert Mugabe's chaotic land 'reform' programme, disregarding all legal protections placed on farms. These flouted legal protections include those placed by the human rights court of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), of which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
The SADC Tribunal last year ruled in favour of more than 70 farmers, including Freeth and his father-in-law Mike Campbell, who took their fight to keep their land to the regional court. The Tribunal's ruling stated that the government had violated the SADC treaty with regards to discrimination, by enforcing the land 'reform' scheme. The government was ordered to protect the farmers and their right to their land. But this ruling has been openly ignored, to the point that the same Tribunal this year ruled the government in contempt. The government's answer was to 'pull out' of the Tribunal, essentially clearing the way for the escalating violence presently on farms.
Freeth and his family are merely one example of the lawlessness, with ZANU PF top official Nathan Shamuyarira and his hired thugs completely taking over Mount Carmel farm, using violence, intimidation and even arson to complete their takeover. Freeth, his family and his workers have been victimised and targeted with repeated attacks, which culminated in the suspected deliberate fires that devastated the farm in August and September. Freeth's home, Campbell's home, the homes of some of their staff and even an on-site linen factory, were all destroyed, leaving them all homeless.
Countrywide, the police have been assisting in this complete breakdown of the rule of law, often participating in illegal seizures of land. Freeth explained how in Chegutu the Officer in Charge, Officer Manyika, appears to have been 'rewarded' for the inaction of his police division, after he was transferred to the UN as a peace keeper in Liberia.
Freeth detailed how decades of agricultural history are being lost in the campaign, that has already seen most productive farms shut down. He expressed concerns about the upcoming farming season, explaining how no preparation is even being allowed to take place. The situation is critical for a country still dependent on food aid, and there are additional concerns of a drought in the coming season.
"The Prime Minister needs to recognise that there is a problem, and he cannot remain in a state of denial any longer," Freeth said. "Hundreds of thousands of people are being directly affected by what is happening and the Prime Minister cannot stand by and let it continue."
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