Another Sensless Murder

21st March 2002

The brother of the Zimbabwean farmer brutally murdered by Robert Mugabe's thugs has spoken of his "utter devastation". The tragic footage of Terry Ford lying dead at his farm near Harare with his loyal Jack Russell terrier Squeak at his side moved millions.

But for his brother Paul, who saw it from his home in Poole, it was a heartbreaking image that he believes should never have been allowed to happen. "Words cannot describe how I felt when I saw the pictures on the news – I was looking at my brother lying there," said Paul 41. "I was absolutely gutted.  It is such a tragic waste of life.  He had already lost both farms - why did they have to kill him when there was nothing left?"

The father-of two is now calling for international pressure to be put on the Zimbabwean president and all aid to be stopped. "Over the years we have lost lots of people - when is it going to end?" said Paul, who left the country in 1981 for South Africa. "My brother is one of thousands that have been murdered.  How can this happen in this society?"

Paul moved to Dorset with his wife Lynn and children six years ago.  He plans to travel back to South Africa on Monday to console his father and attend a memorial service for Terry.

In spite of his grief he has been comforted by messages of condolence from people all over the world. "My brother was incredibly popular over there and was well respected and loved by everyone," he said. For as long as he can remember Terry had owned two farms and was the country's biggest producer of wool.

Two years ago Mugabe's mobs evicted him and his family from one of the farms. The traumatic incident saw his wife Trish suffer a stroke and in fear for her and her children's lives they fled to safety in New Zealand without him.

Despite pleas by his family to leave troubled Zimbabwe Terry stood firm. His second farm was taken last year, leaving the farmer's livelihood in tatters. "He had death threats against him but all he lived for was the farm and farming," said Paul.  "He wouldn't leave because it was his country." Terry died when he returned to the farm house he still owned.

"He always said the only way he would leave that farm was in a box," said Paul. "He loved the land and he died where he would have wanted to die, but not under the right circumstances.