Two farmers arrested for resisting illegal eviction in Beatrice

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 December, 2007

Just days after a regional tribunal issued an interim order blocking the Zimbabwe government from evicting commercial white farmer Mike Campbell from his property, two white farmers were arrested after refusing to vacate their farms in the Beatrice area. Johannes Fredrick Fick of Victory Farm and Gideon Stephanus Theron of Zanka Farm were ordered to leave their properties.

According to a report in The Herald the two farms had been acquired by the government for resettlement. The story alleged that the white farmers “extended their occupation without Government authority”.

Last Friday a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) court ruled that the government of Zimbabwe would not suffer any losses if it waits until full arguments are heard in the Campbell case early next year. The outcome of the case will affect the situation of many other white farmers still on their land in Zimbabwe. Yet the authorities have continued to evict farmers in similar situations.

The Herald claimed Fick was lawfully supposed to vacate the farm by December 20, 2006, but he was issued with a temporary extension of stay in order to wind up business, giving him until September 30, 2007. The charge is that he did not leave and was therefore arrested. The state claims that the new owner, named as Rangai Masango, has incurred losses due to the delay.

In the case of Theron, it is alleged he did not vacate his farm by February 4, 2007as ordered, to make way for a new owner named as Elias Musakwa.

The farmers did not enter a plea on Tuesday. They were separately remanded out of custody until mid January.