Zimbabwe Farms go to Top Brass

Tue 11^th December 2001 

Among the "lucky applicants" who received white-owned farms in Zimbabwe are the country's police commissioner, other senior police and defence force officials, cabinet ministers, members of parliament and civil servants. This was disclosed in a presentation by the Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) to a ministerial delegation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which visited Zimbabwe. CFU Deputy President D Taylor-Freeme said land was given to Zanu PF loyalists in accordance with the so-called A2 commercial resettlement scheme. The A2 scheme allows the minister of land, agriculture and rural resettlement to bypass official procedure by signing a letter granting an applicant land for 99 years with an option to buy. Moreover, the new "owners" force farmers to enter into "partnerships" with them: Work for the new master, or leave the farm.

Taylor-Freeme said this "alarming turn of events" made it ridiculously easy for the government to confiscate white-owned farms - even easier than the controversial presidential decree which compels farmers to leave their farms within three months after receiving a seizure order. At least 90% of all commercial farmers in Zimbabwe have already received such an order. It deprives them of any legal protection and those who do not comply could face a two year prison term. Taylor-Freeme told the SADC ministers that the situation on commercial farms had only worsened since the CFU's presentation to SADC heads of state on September 10. Violence, intimidation, disruption of agricultural activities and threats against farmers continue unabated. More than 20 000 farm workers had to be dismissed or were chased off farms, while more and more farmers are systematically being deprived of their land.

Furthermore, a judiciary bench in favour of Zanu PF had recently legalised President Robert Mugabe's accelerated land reform programme. "This ruling by the high court effectively depraved commercial farmers of every possible opportunity to appeal." Taylor-Freeme said that due to the disruption in the agricultural sector only about 220 000 tons of maize - Zimbabwe's staple diet - would be produced this year, in comparison with the normal yield of 850 000 tons. The tobacco harvest would only comprise 165 million kg, compared with the 235 million kg harvested two years ago. Farm invaders slaughtered approximately 30% of Zimbabwe's beef cattle. Many of these animals were cows from stud herds, which meant that the quality of the national herd would deteriorate. The wildlife industry was especially hard hit by poachers and the destruction of natural habitat. If 90% of Zimbabwe's farmers ceased production, the country would lose at least 13% of its gross domestic product and 34% of its export income.

The possibility for economic recovery dwindles by the day. "The infrastructure is more or less still in place and there is still time to recover, but soon there will be no turning back." Taylor-Freeme said the government also failed to honour its agreement with the SADC to negotiate with farmers. "The CFU was not consulted on recent issues such as new legislation and price control." Despite the extremely difficult circumstances of the past 21 months, commercial farmers were still adamant to continue production, and the CFU was committed to orderly and lawful land reform, Taylor-Freeme said.