Jambanjas continue on farms despite sugar, wheat and maize shortages

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 May, 2007

Instead of redeveloping agriculture and assisting the remaining white commercial farmers producing food for the nation, the government has continued with its policy of violent evictions known as jambanjas. While food shortages intensify and experts say the situation will worsen, a campaign of illegal and violent removal of white farmers continues. The evictions, originally carried out by resettled farmers and war veterans, are now under the control of the military. This new strategy completely bypasses the rule of law. And former farm workers now unemployed have become outcasts, working for bread and a cup of tea.

John Worsley Worswick from Justice for Agriculture told us about 400 white farmers who remain in Zimbabwe. Of that number only about 250 are still productive. Worswick explained that government enacted Amendment #17 to make sure evicted farmers could not legally challenge their removal. But the farmers found a loophole which allowed them to get their day in court. So the government resorted back to its original violent jambanja tactics. Worswick said there is a farmer under siege in Chisipite just outside Harare. And 2 farmers, 1 from Karoi and the other from Vic Falls, were evicted last week.

Army officials and soldiers who are part of Operation Maguta, the military management of farm activities, are now being used to take over farms illegally. Worswick said the open display of arms is a common feature. Farmers under siege become too scared to resist. The whites are also seen as a threat by government because they witness what is happening in the rural areas, and the many deaths from malnutrition.
An outcast society of unemployed farm workers has developed from the evictions. According to Worswick, they are rewarded for any work they get from the new black owners with some bread and a cup of tea. No money changes hands at the end of the month. The lucky ones might receive a 10kg bag of maize as a month’s wages.