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Commercial
Farmers' Union condemns Chipinge evictions and arrests
Commercial
Farmers' Union - Zimbabwe
February
01, 2010
The
Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) of Zimbabwe condemns the arrest
of two more commercial farmers from the Chipinge district in the
eastern highlands, south of Mutare, and the conviction of four others
for refusing to leave their properties.
On Tuesday, Mutare Magistrate
Samuel Zuze found the four farmers, Algernon Taffs (Chiriga Estates),
Z.F. Joubert (Stilfontein of Umzila), Mike Jahme (Silverton Estates)
and Mike Odendaal (Hillcrest), a South African citizen, guilty of
failing to leave their properties.
Each received a US$800.00
fine and suspended sentences. Odendaal was given a month to pack
up his belongings, while the other three farmers were instructed
to vacate their properties by 5pm the next day.
The magistrate ruled
that the farmers would be jailed for two years each if they did
not comply with the ruling. The four were also denied their basic
right to appeal against the judgement, stating there was 'no doubt'
in his ruling.
A last minute stay of
eviction was granted by the High Court on Wednesday after the farmer's
legal representatives filed an urgent application shortly after
their sentencing. But Magistrate Zuze on Thursday refused to recognise
the ruling, and ordered the arrest of Joubert's son, Dawie,
and former Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President Trevor Gifford
when they tried to deliver a letter to Zuze clarifying the High
Court's position.
Joubert and Gifford were
transferred Friday to the Mutare magistrate's court after
the Chipinge court refused to deal with them. They are facing dubious
'contempt of court' charges.
CFU is extremely concerned
that Magistrate Zuze, who is being accused of "grossly exceeding
his jurisdiction," is a beneficiary of Jahme's farm.
CFU obtained a copy of an offer letter to Zuze, offering him Jahme's
Newcastle Farm. It is unacceptable for a magistrate to preside over
a trial in which he holds a personal stake. Furthermore, before
court proceedings had been concluded, supporters and hired thugs
were already on two of the farms.
The looting of the main
workshop on the Joubert's farm and the police's refusal
so far to intervene further points to the complete lawlessness that
continues to abound against commercial farmers in Zimbabwe.
The eviction
of Odendaal, a South African citizen, again indicates the government's
total disregard for the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreement (BIPPA), signed November 27, which protects South African
citizens' land in Zimbabwe. Attacks on South African nationals operating
commercial farms in this country have in fact increased since the
signing of the agreement.
The effects of these
latest evictions on Zimbabwe's economy and agricultural sector
will be devastating. Joubert is a highly respected Brahman breeder
in Zimbabwe. His cattle, which have top American and South African
genetics, will likely be slaughtered out, adding to the horrific
amount of breeding stock that have already been slaughtered since
the land invasions began in February 2000. Two dairy herds will
also be slaughtered out.
Approximately 350 ha
of macadamia nuts, 400 ha maize, 140 ha avocados, 80 ha tea and
50 ha coffee will also be directly affected.
There will also be approximately
US$3 million loss in export earnings due to this exercise. That
is a staggering amount, particularly in a debt-ridden country like
Zimbabwe that desperately needs revenue. Prior to the land invasions,
agriculture was the second largest foreign currency-earning sector
of the economy, surpassed only by mining.
The Zimbabwean people
are also in desperate need of food security. The United Nations'
Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) said in its latest
report that close to 2.2 million Zimbabweans will be food insecure
between January and March this year, which is up from last year's
estimates of 1.7 million people needing food aid. Independent population
estimates are between 6 and 7 million people, down from 12.5 million
in 2000.
This is completely unacceptable
in a country that has the capacity to abundantly feed itself as
well as provide additional food for the region.
The land invasions have
intensified in the past year, with the forced seizure of more than
80 farms since last February. 152 of the 300 farms still in operation
are now being targeted for eviction.
The CFU deplores
the government's failure to stop the ongoing violence against
farmers and their workers, and for allowing a handful of thugs to
operate with complete impunity. The ongoing attacks violate the
basic principles of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA).
We implore the unity
government to take a stand and halt the land invasions, so that
we can start the process of rebuilding our agricultural sector for
the sake of the entire country.
Deon Theron
President
Commercial Farmers' Union - Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 309 800 (CFU - Harare)
Zim Cell: +263 912 246 233
E-mail: dtheron@cfuzim.org
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