But Campbell-Morrison has not been involved in farming activities for several years after his tobacco farm in the Vumba Mountains was seized as part of Robert Mugabes land reform programme. The former farmer and his wife lost their farm and farmhouse, but were given permission to stay in a small cottage on the land, where the only planting has been in the form of flowers in their small garden. Campbell-Morrison has instead been working at the tourist hotel next door, where he is the greens keeper for the venues golf course.
But, regardless of this, the Campbell-Morrisons are now packing up their cottage, as the fast track prosecution of farmers, active or not, picks up speed. Justice for Agricultures (JAG) John Worsley-Worswick explained on Thursday that Campbell-Morrisons prosecution highlights the racist, ethnic and citizen issues that still mar the land debate. He said that white farmers in most cases are still widely regarded as enemies of the state, but emphasised that they still have the same citizens rights as the rest of Zimbabwe. The JAG official continued that there are fears the case is the start of the widespread fast-track prosecution of commercial farmers, and that active farming will not necessarily be an indicator of potential prosecution.
The offensive against the farmers has been in the form of a two-pronged attack in the name of Mugabes land grab, including court prosecution of farmers and physical land invasions. More than 140 farmers have been hauled before the courts on trumped up charges of being on so-called state land illegally, and many more have been forced into hiding for fear of illegal prosecution. At the same time, land invasions headed by ZANU PF loyalists, have intensified and grown increasingly violent, with widespread looting and massive theft taking place on a daily basis.
SWRadio Africa