Government silence on land attacks continues

By Alex Bell
21 May 2009

The deafening silence from the unity government on the ongoing and increasingly violent land invasions has continued, despite promises by government leaders that the rule of law will be respected in Zimbabwe.

The Prime Minister’s media conference on Thursday, to provide details about agreements reached during talks about the Global Political Agreement, was an ideal platform to denounce the ongoing attacks. It was hoped that the land invasions would figure as a key issue in the talks between the principals of the unity government, but it would appear this has not been the case. Morgan Tsvangirai briefly expressed concern about the continued violations of the rule of law, referring to the attacks as “some of our citizens taking the law into their own hands with respect to the land reform programme.”

He dismissed the violent attacks, that Robert Mugabe has condoned, as being merely issues that “represent obstacles to the full implementation of the GPA.” He then quickly moved on saying; “It is also important that we recognize that progress has been made and continues to be made with respect to rebuilding Zimbabwe and having a positive impact on the lives of the people.”

Justice for Agriculture’s John Worsley-Worswick explained that there is a growing concern within the beleaguered farming community, because of the deafening silence by the government on the attacks. He said there has been a “conspicuous lack of resolve” by the unity government on the land issue, despite the national threat that farming disruption poses. He further explained that there will never be food security in the country, which is already crippled by food shortages, until the land issue is resolved and farming is allowed to continue.

The Prime Minister’s press conference on Thursday included the official announcement that Roy Bennett will be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Robert Mugabe has previously refused to commit Bennett into a position of power, hiding behind the trumped-up terrorism charges laid against the MDC Treasurer-General. It has been widely speculated that part of Mugabe’s refusal to swear Bennett into the government, is Bennett’s expected tough action on the farm invasions.

Worsley-Worswick explained that Bennett’s inclusion in the government would be welcome, “because he has a greater understanding of agriculture, of the importance of uninterrupted farming, than the rest of the government.” Worsley-Worswick continued that Bennett “scares the Mugabe regime, because he is astute and aware of exactly what needs to be done to stop the land invasions continuing.”

The fresh wave of land invasions across the country has forced many remaining commercial farmers into hiding, while more than 100 are facing prosecution simply for being on their land. In the past week the attacks have intensified, with two people being severely assaulted by hired land thugs. Last Friday, a Banket farmer was beaten by the son of a ZANU PF affiliated political official, set on stealing the farmer’s land. Mere days later, the 80 year old mother of a Chinhoyi farmer was assaulted by police, when the officials came to arrest her son for being on his land. She was briefly detained and then released with serious injuries.