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Justice For Agriculture - JAG Zimbabwe
August 03 , 2002

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Questions and Answers

Who is JAG?
JAG is a crisis management group, set up by concerned Zimbabweans focused on seeking a clear way forward on the land issue through the judiciary, whilst exposing the corruption, callousness and recklessness of the Zimbabwean government's current land reform programme.

In order to achieve this JAG offers to represent all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. This includes representation of potential new farmers who genuinely want to legitimise their position through the formation of coalitions with representative organisations.

JAG is made up of Zimbabweans who intend to stay in Zimbabwe. It resents the injustices being perpetrated against the agricultural sector and would like to participate in a true and lasting Zimbabwe of tomorrow. JAG objects to the sacrifice of individual rights and the productive agricultural sector for the sake of political expediency.

Zimbabwe faces a man-made famine. This is a country which accepted responsibility for the SADC food security, with a highly developed agricultural sector, and adequate water resources. It is unfortunate to note that the Government of Zimbabwe only draws on 25% of stored water. The President said when addressing Parliament on 23rd July 2002: "It is a
crushing indictment on us that a country with as many dams as ours continues to suffer ravages of recurring droughts." Zimbabwe entered a 'wet drought' in 2002 following a record six seasons, which were generally ideal for farming. However, after the voting public rejected the President's constitutional proposals in February 2000, war veterans and 'settlers', with
prior clearance from authorities, stopped farmers from doing what they do best: feeding the nation at affordable prices.

What are JAG's objectives?

• To keep farmers, their workforces and families on the land and in their homes.
• To keep in place Zimbabwean agricultural skills and expertise for a better tomorrow.
• To work towards a transparent and equitable land reform programme with due regard to economic imperatives.

How is JAG going to achieve its objectives when others have failed?

• By remaining focused on the long-term future for all. By saying 'NO' to short-term benefits that only serve the agenda of a few and locks others into feeding corruption and dependency. JAG intends to identify those affected and provide, wherever possible, genuine advice and assistance to alleviate some of the burden.
• By instilling in the agricultural sector a renewed sense of purpose, hope and morality and communicating this hope to other sectors of the Zimbabwean economy. Regardless of the outcome, JAG is committed to recording all illegalities. Those who are responsible for, or connive in, any harm that results - whether to those directly involved or to the general population for the avoidable deaths from starvation or malnutrition in an AIDS-rampant environment - will ultimately be held accountable.

Who can be beneficiaries of JAG programmes?
All those with a genuine desire to overcome the present injustices; who believe in a true and lasting Zimbabwe for tomorrow.

In what way can JAG help those already affected by chaotic land reform?
By encouraging them to stand up for their rights through the courts and to understand that they no longer remain isolated; that they too can now be part of those who are determined to see this impasse through.

What does JAG advocate?
Foremost, and wherever possible, that farmers remain in their homes and on the land, amongst their own people who are now so much more dependant on them during this time of crisis. To re-instill hope that there will be a tomorrow for Zimbabwe's commercial agriculture and an equal opportunity for any and all Zimbabweans who want to farm in Zimbabwe.

What are JAG achievements to date?
Many people have described the formation of JAG as 'a breath of fresh air' within a suffocating silence and cloak of fear. JAG has offered an alternative to those who were desperate for leadership based on principle and integrity. In just a fortnight JAG has become the opinion-forming platform for agriculture in Zimbabwe.

Has JAG not been formed too late in the day to 'make a difference'?
No. It is never too late to make a principled stand. However, it is accepted that the founding members of JAG are faced with a risky and daunting task by being a dissenting voice at a very dangerous time.

What support can JAG offer as it forms itself into a formal association?
Amongst other things, JAG is in the process of bringing into being a support structure for farmers and their workforce. This committee has begun lobbying for funding to keep farming families on their land and to achieve this they must provide: food, school fees, and temporary re-location if need be, but encourages farmers and their staff to remain on farms and will if necessary provide seed packs and fertilizer for the growing of crops for their own consumption.

What does JAG need from Zimbabwe and any other concerned persons?
JAG requires urgent and massive funding for the following:

• Running costs.
• A revolving fund for test cases and to assist farmers and farm workers arrested in August.
• To support our sector JAG estimates it will need funding for a minimum of 45 000 worker families and 500 farm owner families.

We intend to utilise the skills and assets of our sector currently lying idle to provide technical support and advice. Farmers also possess resources in terms of transportation and distribution of welfare and feeding programmes. Finances are required to cushion the agricultural sector against the massive draining of skills across the racial divide by supporting farmers, their workers and families and associated industries. Programmes are in place to feed workers and provide inputs for those who can still grow their own food; to source opportunities for farmers direct involvement in famine relief activities, be it transporting food, or providing technical advice to their staff on the farms. Alternative accommodation for those being illegally evicted out of their own homes is being arranged.

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