Ian Guy Campbell-Morrison spent Tuesday night in a Mutare jail cell after he was found guilty of farming, on land he legally owns. He was sentenced late Wednesday to a total fine of US$800 and a suspended jail term, if he does not leave his farm in the next three days. Justice for Agricultures John Worsley-Worswick explained on Wednesday that the three-day eviction order is unreasonable, and added that an appeal has been lodged in the High Court. He continued that there are fears the case is the start of the widespread fast-track prosecution of commercial farmers, that were ordered by the Attorney General Johannes Tomana last year.
Campbell-Morrisons prosecution comes after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week moved to play down the severity of the current wave of farm attacks. During an interview about the 100-day milestone of the unity government, Tsvangirai called the attacks isolated incidents that had been blown out of proportion. He also said the matter was being dealt with, despite the clear lack of action from the government that has been so evident in the months since the attacks began. The Prime Ministers comments have since sparked outrage from the commercial farming community, which has been left reeling by the numerous, ongoing and increasingly violent attacks.
The offensive against the farmers has been in the form of a two-pronged attack in the name of Robert Mugabes land grab, including widespread court battles and physical land attacks. 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.
Chegutu farmer Ben Freeth, whose Mount Carmel farm has been under siege by lawless invaders since February, has this week written to the Prime Minister, one again urging the government to put a stop to the blatant destruction of property rights. Mount Carmel has been all but destroyed by land invaders working for ZANU PF top official Nathan Shamuyarira, and hundreds of thousands of US dollars worth of produce has been stolen or left to rot. This week, Freeth, his family and his workers, came under fresh intimidation and attack, with the hired thugs threatening renewed violence if they dont leave the land. Freeth, whose wife and three young children still live on the property, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that they are all living in terror, saying we are all being held to ransom by just a small group of thugs, while the government pretends nothing is happening.
The unity government ironically has repeatedly pledged its commitment to improving life for all Zimbabweans, but the continuing farm attacks have added to the already considerable suffering of a nation. Food production has been halted on almost all farms, despite more than 80 percent of the country relying on food aid. At the same time, thousands of people have lost their farm jobs as a result of the attacks, adding to the crippling unemployment rate that is already more than 90 percent.
These attacks and the lack of property rights are also at the root of the lack of investment and confidence in Zimbabwe.- SW Radio