Army intensifies attacks on remaining white farmers as ZANU-PF prepares for elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
03 October, 2007

From the original 4000, an estimated 350 to 400 white farmers who remain on the ground in Zimbabwe are dealing with an escalating and violent campaign by the army, Central Intelligence Officials and the Youth Brigade as the ruling party gears up for elections due next year. Top military and government officials are also after the best of the remaining commercial farms as the country’s economy continues to deteriorate, and some are ignoring court orders to stop interfering. Among them is Brigadier-General Itayi Mujaji, a war veteran and senior official in the Zimbabwe Army, and the ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira.

John Worsley Worswick of Justice for Agriculture (JAG) said the tactics being used have changed in the last 9 months. The war veterans and settlers that were used to intimidate white farmers for the last 7 years have been replaced by military police, intelligence agents and members of the so-called Youth Brigades. Harassment has been so intense that several farmers have packed up and left in the last few weeks. Worswick described it as “Jambanja”, or violent takeovers, because there has been an open display and use of weapons.

White farmers are being arrested and then detained over the weekend in rural cells, for ignoring the September 30 deadline to vacate their properties. But Worswick sees it as a ploy to intimidate them into leaving. This way they will not bear witness to the brutality of ZANU-PF’s election tactics in the rural areas. Many have been summoned to appear at magistrate's courts to be charged, and their cases are often postponed to a later date. At least 5 from Harare South are reported to have packed up and left in September alone.

Worswick confirmed that Brigadier-General Itayi Mujaji had used armed soldiers to evict farmer Charles Lock from his Karoi farm in Manicaland just 2 weeks ago, despite the fact that he has 5 court orders allowing him to stay. There is also an order for the arrest of General Mujaji and his wife Pauline for contempt of court. But all that was being ignored.

Lock cannot be accused of refusing to cooperate with government. He gave up his own 2 500-hectare farm, moved to his father-in-law's farm and gave two-thirds of that farm away as well. He has said he will continue to fight in the courts.

Worswick also confirmed reports that the ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira has been after Mount Carmel farm in Chegutu. The property is owned by Mike Campbell, a 73 year old commercial farmer who believes that leaving is giving up. Campbell has vowed to stay.

The harassment of white farmers is bound to escalate as we get closer to the elections in 2008. Worswick said some farmers are considering bringing their cases to the regional court of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), in Windhoek, Namibia.