Chipinge’s only doctor evicted from farm as area braces for more

By Tererai Karimakwenda
29 September 2005

The eviction of white farmers from the Chipinge area of Manicaland has continued with the revelation Thursday that the only regular private doctor left and her husband have been forced to get off their property by Friday. Doctor Petra Baumgartner and Rob Clowes were packing when she described how the chairperson of the local land committee Mrs Hungwe ordered them to vacate the farm and leave all the equipment behind. Having experienced violence the last time they were asked to leave, the couple has decided to go peacefully and fight the matter through the courts. Strangely enough, the farm is called Destiny.

Baumgartner told us she is aware she no longer has the right to fight the eviction in court since Robert Mugabe signed the 17th Constitutional Amendments into law last month, effectively nationalising all agricultural land. But she said her lawyer is confident they can at least fight the occupation of their farm. Baumgartner ran a private clinic where she performed minor surgeries, conducted deliveries and had daily consultations. The 15 workers who have helped her for the last seven years are now unemployed.

Mrs Hungwe was in the company of the Chipinge rural police chief Inspector Makota on Tuesday when she visited the farm and ordered the Friday deadline. She told the doctor and her husband the farm was no longer theirs and they had no rights. All equipment is to be left in place and they are to leave with only their personal belongings.

Baumgartner said the problems started back in mid-May when they were told Destiny Farm was being taken even though it was not listed. They decided to take the matter to court, but before the case came up in Harare,
Violence erupted in Chipinge and the couple was locked in their house for 4 days. Baumgartner was 35 weeks pregnant then with 2 other toddlers as well. They were eventually let out but only to be caught by the gate as they tried to escape. In ensuing incident, Baumgartner suffered a broken hand and was also forced into premature labour. She gave birth via emergency Caesar.

The couple won their case in court and moved back onto the farm. All was well until 2 weeks ago when minister Mutasa referred to the remaining white farmers as filth that must be cleared. That was when doctor Baumgartner was visited again, and this time she is leaving before the violence breaks out. She was told there would be a battle if she insisted on staying. Chipinge has been tense since minister Mutasa’s comments, and it is reported the remaining 80 white farmers left were told they will soon be gone.