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Nothing Left To Steal
A farmers home is wrecked as Zimbabwe reverts to jungle law 17th March 2003 The Zimbabwean government has now acquired 98% of the former commercial white farms under its controversial land reform programme. Out of the 11,02 million hectares under commercial farming prior to the advent of the fast-track land reform exercise in 2000, a mere 220 400 hectares remain unlisted for compulsory acquisition. The figure constitutes only 2% of what used to be Zimbabwe's commercial farmland. Though the land acquisition programme was declared officially over in August last year, government has continued to designate more farms with the latest being the serving of Section 8 notices to over 40 farmers in the Karoi/Tengwe area two weeks ago. According to Justice for Agriculture (JAG) and the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) the remaining area would produce not more than 5% of national requirements. "Production from the unlisted hectarage would be insignificant," CFU vice-president Doug Taylor-Freeme, said. Before the start of farm invasions in February 2000 the large-scale commercial farming sector throughout the country had 11,02 million hectares. In its February 2003 survey to establish current status of commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe, the CFU described the service of Section 8 notices to commercial farmers in the Karoi/Tengwe area last week as part of a record of deception. "Government has reneged on agreements and rebuffed sincere attempts to resolve issues of contention," the CFU said. Last month government, through Lands and Agriculture minister Joseph Made and Information minister Jonathan Moyo, tried to lure the CFU into accepting a government-doctored memorandum of understanding. The CFU turned down the "olive branch" citing government's lack of seriousness in resolving the land problem. "The CFU is concerned with the implementation of government land policy, especially pertaining to one-man, one-farm policy," the CFU said. The CFU said despite government claims that the acquisition exercise was over, this was certainly not the case. As of February 2003, listing of properties for acquisition by government was still going on. Moreover, the acquisition procedures are still being implemented in a lawless and disorderly manner, with illegal occupations, interruptions to productive operations and human rights violations continuing. "On the ground, commercial farmers are still experiencing great difficulty trying to work with the police to resolve problems. "In many cases reports by farmers of illegal acts are ignored and perpetrators of crimes still not brought to justice," the CFU said. The CFU added: "Overall production is discouraged by the absence of credit, erratic input supplies, soaring costs and price controls resulting from a continued lack of foreign exchange." News24 - SA |
