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Global Political Agreement and agriculture
Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU)
May 26, 2009

Summary
Encouraged by the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) on 15 September 2008 farmers were prepared to answer the call as written in paragraph 5.9(f) of the agreement, which states:

"(f) work together for the restoration of full productivity on all agricultural land"

Paragraph 5.9(c) further states:

"(c) ensure security of tenure to all land holders"

Unfortunately, none of the above have been forthcoming so many of our farmers have been unable to produce much at all during the summer season just finished and very little has been planted for the winter cereal cropping season which has just started.

Appeal to Government

For several months now we have appealed to the Inclusive Government for a moratorium on the issue of new offer letters and the persistent prosecution of our farmers to give stability and encouragement back to our industry players to invest and to plant their much-needed crops.

We were therefore extremely encouraged by the subsequent formation of the Parliamentary Committee led by the Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Mutambara, which conducted a visit to the Chegutu district on 17 April 2009 to witness firsthand the constant disruptions to our farming community.

Although we believe the report was very damning there has been absolutely no resolution, or even recognition that there is even any problem at all.

Reports on farm disruptions

Since September 2007 comprehensive reports have been compiled using first hand information from affected farmers on the ground. Although these reports have been conscientiously written, recording only factual information and widely distributed to the powers that be there have been some allegations that these reports are far from the truth and some even go as far as saying that the reports have merely been fabricated. The facts were substantiated during the visit to Chegutu farms by the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister's Committee and therefore cannot be disputed.

Prosecution of farmers

To date about 140 farmers are either in court or have been through the courts in a much publicised fast track prosecution under the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. These prosecutions have severely undermined confidence and hence production in the entire sector.

These prosecutions are most certainly not being carried out in the spirit of the GPA and the legal ground on which they are being carried out are very weak and have already been ruled against at the Southern African Development Community Tribunal (SADCT) as contrary, or ultra vires to the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

It is believed that the prosecutions are being continued, firstly as a continuation of the revolution to evict all farmers of European decent off the land; secondly in a perverted show of the return of Law and Order in Zimbabwe; and thirdly as an effort to destabilise the effectiveness of the unity Government.

New beneficiaries

Many new beneficiaries have been arriving on properties with offer letters which are suspected of being either deviously or fraudulently manufactured as a last ditch means of the patronage reward system, because since the formation of the new Government the traditional sources of revenue and reward have dried up. It is also suspected that the majority of the prosecutions against farmers are being initiated by new beneficiaries, which is unlawful.

Breakdown of incidents

Conclusion

It has been just over a month since the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister's committee's visit to the Chegutu district. About 2 weeks later their report was submitted to the Cabinet yet there has been no visible change on the ground.

Even more disturbing is that there have been recent statements made by the powers that be stating that all is fine on the farms, yet this is far from the truth. There are many young and old farmers out there who are just longing for the opportunity to get on with their business of farming and producing their product for the markets. There can be no meaningful investment in agriculture until property rights are secured.

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