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Justice For Agriculture - JAG Zimbabwe
August 03 , 2002

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History of the agricultural crisis in Zimbabwe since February 2000

Lawlessness and murder
Over a dozen farmers have been ruthlessly murdered since the invasions began after the referendum in 2000. Scores of loyal farm workers have also lost their lives, their only sin being that they supported their employers, or in some cases, bravely tried to protect them. Known killers have not been arrested, while innocent people have been persecuted without cause. Many people have been intimidated, threatened, beaten, assaulted, abducted, or
become displaced and this continues unabated on a daily basis.

Legalized theft of assets
Because of the lawlessness, and because settlers were not expecting state support on newly allocated land, it was inevitable that looting of movable assets would occur. It is unfortunate that moveable assets, valued at Z$ 7.9 billion, have already been seized, impounded or looted from 632 farms, preventing farming enterprises from securing recompense in this regard.

Hopes for further compensation have almost entirely been abandoned, especially now that the Zimbabwean government is bankrupt and inflation is running at 120 per cent. Economists estimate $14.5 billion worth of moveable assets have been illegally impounded or looted since February 2000. The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has no funds to pay for equipment or the right to compulsorily acquire it from farmers.

Billions of dollars in extortion under the guise of retrenchment In the last month, over 75 farmers have been barricaded in their homes or barns under pressure to pay staff retrenchment packages, which run into an average of over Z$ 30 million per farm. An unregistered union, calling itself the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), has taken it upon itself to incite and intimidate traumatized agricultural labour forces into breaking their contracts of employment. Notorious self-styled war veteran, Joseph Chinotimba, formed this union.

Example: The ZFTU President, Alfred Makwarimba, confirmed to the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper that the union was visiting farms in Mashonaland Central, East and West. Undisputed reports confirmed that on Leopardsvlei farm, new settler Reward Marufu (brother of Grace Mugabe) on Tuesday, 23^rd July burnt houses belonging to the farm workers, rendering 700 people destitute. Marufu invaded the farm, which was not under compulsory
acquisition, and plundered assets, as well as stole a soya bean crop. He refused the owner entry to the farm to finalise farming operations.

When the farmer was originally thrown off the land, the 200-odd labour force were paid retrenchment packages and left on the farm to be employed by Marufu. According to a labour union official (declined to be publicly named for fear of reprisal), the staff that was re-employed by Marufu became disillusioned, as they were not being paid correctly or on time. After allegedly threatening action, Marufu forced them off the farm by burning down their homes. The abandoned workers remained in the open for two days before Marufu consented to provide transport to relocate them to a neighbouring village.

Violation of government policy and constant shifting of goal posts In a clear violation of "one-farmer, one-farm", official government policy on land reform and the Abuja Accord, 1024 single-owned farms have been compulsorily acquired by service of Section 8 Orders.

Legislation impact on wildlife, livestock and the environment
For the last two years many settlers and some unemployed farm workers have resorted to poaching and wholesale tree cutting to survive - or get rich. As at 30th April 2002, livestock and wildlife operators in the large-scale sector reported 387 237 head of cattle have been forcibly de-stocked, while
wildlife/tourism direct losses run to over Z$ 6.3 billion. It is believed that these figures are conservative and total losses could be much higher.

Farming versus starvation
Whilst this ban on planting, producing and marketing of food occurs, Mr Mugabe, his cabinet ministers and aid organisations are lobbying the international community for food aid to feed over six million Zimbabweans who are already starving.

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