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Government takes back unused farms
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
February 05, 2008

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news050208/farms050208.htm

At least 1449 farms seized from their former white owners have now been taken back by government because they were either empty or no farming was taking place. The state owned Herald newspaper quoted State Security and Lands Resettlement Minister Didymus Mutasa saying his ministry was repossessing, 'all vacant and underutilised A2 farms,' and the ministry was, 'not going back on this exercise.' Although the minister said the farms would be given to deserving applicants the issue has highlighted one of the major criticisms of the land grab, which saw political cronies with no farming experience helping themselves to huge tracts of land.

Over 4000 white commercial farmers who formed the backbone of the agricultural economy were forced off their farms in a violent campaign that Mugabe tried to use to shore up his waning popularity. A defeat in a constitutional referendum in 2000 triggered this backlash from the Zanu PF leader who alleged that white farmers were supporting the opposition. The regime sponsored violent thugs to evict, brutalise and, in some cases, murder the farmers. Mugabe's regime then passed a raft of laws in parliament aimed at blocking any legal action farmers might try to oppose acquisition by the government.

Another feature of the land reform exercise was how influential members of Mugabe's inner circle were rewarded with farms. Members of the military, police, prison and security services were given farms, as were other individuals working for the state owned media, judges and businessmen loyal to Zanu PF. The few villagers who had been used to invade some of the farms were later kicked out to make way for the senior figures in the regime. As the dust settles on this farming upheaval, audits by government officials now show how the farms have fallen into ruin. Houses on the farms have had their roofs, windows and other equipment stripped. The few farm inputs given to the new farmers have all been sold on the black market.

Meanwhile an appeal involving a Zimbabwean white farmer who took his case against eviction to a SADC tribunal, will be heard next month. William Michael Campbell, who is the target of eviction from his Chegutu farm, is challenging the legality of government's controversial land reform laws. Last year in December the SADC tribunal barred the Zimbabwe government from evicting the farmer, pending the final determination on the matter. Campbell is arguing the land reform process is racist and that Zimbabwe as a signatory to various SADC treaties is violating its obligations.

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