There are apparently 13 lucky white fellows who have been "complying
with all the terms of the land Reform Programme." These farmers are
described by the lands committee Chairman and Guruve District
Administrator as "co-operative and hardworking."
It would be interesting to look at the process by which the lucky 13
have been selected. What objective set of criteria has been used?
What objective court has considered the criteria? What "fair" trial
process has been followed to make a Judgement as to whether the white
farmer is "complying" enough or being "cooperative" or "hard working"
enough?
Now that the lucky 13 have apparently got their letters it is important
that they read the last point of the offer letter – point seven. It
states that:
The Minister reserves the right to withdraw or change this offer
letter if he deems it necessary….In the event of a withdrawal or
change of this offer, no compensation arising from this offer shall be
claimable or payable whatsoever."
No bank is going to finance the lucky 13; but if they somehow grow a
crop the Minister may decide, at time of harvest, that the offer letter
will be withdrawn in favour of someone else. The reaping of crops that
the chefs did not sow appears to be a good way of keeping them happy.
It is happening on Mount Carmel Farm as I write. Every mango in the
supermarkets of Harare is currently a stolen one from Mount Carmel farm.
The other issue that the lucky 13 will have to consider is if they sign
the acceptance terms of the offer letter, they are condoning laws that
have been struck down in international courts and accepting that they
do not own their farms or their homes any longer. By signing the offer
letter are they signing away their title and their right to be
compensated for it? By accepting the offer letter are they also
legitimising offer letters so that the next happy fellow that comes
along clutching an offer letter for "his" farm with a smile like a
person who has won the national lottery, can just move in and take over
and start harvesting the crops that he never sowed?
If Zimbabwe is going to go forward, property rights with a strong
collateral value need to be restored and expanded into areas where the
people never enjoyed title in the past. Farming is a long term
business if it is to be successful. Without investment security,
farming does not work. The whole of history supports this statement.
Offer letters and flimsy 99 year lease agreements that can be cancelled
at any time and are given or cancelled on the basis of patronage
depending on whether a farmer is perceived to be supportive of "the
Party" or not, are going to see the whole of the Zimbabwean population
continue to flounder in an unforgiving sea.
If Zimbabweans are to stop sinking and starving and becoming poorer,
the issue of proper property rights is going to have to be addressed.
Sadly, with the continued farm invasions and the continued theft of
whole crops, there is little evidence to suggest that this is anyway a
priority with the Zimbabwe Government at this time. – BEN FREETH, by
e-mail