The intimidation of the country's remaining commercial farmers is once again intensifying, and there have been no attempts from the government, particularly the Prime Minister, to prevent more illegal farm seizures.

Farmers across the country have turned to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to put a stop to ongoing land attacks, which have continued regardless of his presence in the unity government. But the pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears, and the situation is once again beginning to take an ugly turn.

Catherine Jouineau-Meredith's Twyford Farm was burned to the ground earlier this month by the ZANU PF senator who has led violent attacks on the property since last year, claiming he has an 'Offer Letter' for the property. Senator Jamaya Muduvuri moved on to the farm in March this year after successfully evicting Jouineau-Meredith, who was ordered to leave the farm and fined US$200 for occupying it "illegally".

Muduvuri already owns Shiloh Farm near Kadoma, Mandalay and Brunswick farms near Chegutu, and Hoffmarie Farm in Kadoma, clearly demonstrating that the land grab has nothing to do with 'land reform'. Twyford farm is now the fifth property that he has grabbed to add to his collection of unproductive pieces of land.

As a French citizen Jouineau-Meredith is meant to be protected by a bilateral investment protection agreement, signed between France and Zimbabwe. But this BIPPA, like others meant to protect foreign owned land in Zimbabwe, has been completely ignored. Jouineau-Meredith also has a High Court order from 2007 that recognised her rights to the farm. But again, the total disregard for the rule of law in Zimbabwe means the court order has offered no protection against illegal land invasions.

Senator Muduvuri has already looted the once productive farm of all its crops and equipment, and Jouineau-Meredith has repeatedly called on Prime Minister Tsvangirai to intervene over the past year. In March this year, Tsvangirai's office told Jouineau-Meredith to "disengage in Chegutu," and not try to recover her farm equipment and the rest of her belongings. She was assured that a letter cancelling Muduvuri's Offer Letter had been signed by the Prime Minister and Vice President John Nkomo. But after several attempts to get the letter, the Prime Minister's office stopped communicating with her and refused to return her calls.

Jouineau-Meredith wrote another letter to the Prime Minister's office last week expressing anger that there has been nothing but empty promises in reaction to her plight.

"I am now seeking FULL COMPENSATION for the loss of my French BIPPA farm as per the Land Reform Legislation regarding BIPPA farms. The farm represents a FRENCH INVESTMENT in Zimbabwe and is therefore liable for compensation in EURO the day it was taken away from me," Jouineau-Meredith wrote.

Deon Theron, the President of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that the situation "is returning to the old ways when the land reform programme started." He explained that he is also under threat, again, after already losing three farms since 2000. Theron has been living with his mother Hester, who was last year threatened with a jail term for refusing to leave her dairy farm and home of 50 years. The elderly widow was eventually granted a court interdict that stopped her eviction and was meant to protect her from the 'beneficiary' of her property.

But Theron said that the harassment against him and his mother has intensified despite the court order, and they are now locked out of their home. Theron explained that land invaders, assisted by the police, have managed to break into their home on the farm and lock the family out. The CFU president said that although he has limited access to the farm, land invaders have taken over and even the police have been involved.

"It is a very scary, tragic situation, and it can only spell out bad things for the future of this country," Theron said. "There is no respect for international BIPPAs, no respect for our own courts, and as long as we don't have respect for the rule of law, then we are lost."

Theron continued saying that similar incidents are occurring throughout the country, where farmers have reported worsening threats and intimidation over the last few weeks. He explained that the CFU has tried to get the intervention of the MDC, to no avail, and even urgent pleas to the co-Ministers of Home Affairs have been ignored.

"Things are getting very serious, and until someone from government stands up and says that this is wrong, then we won't have any change," Theron said.