New strategy, special congress for CFU
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Vusimuzi Bhebhe
Wednesday, 08 September 2010 09:56
HARARE – The Commercial Farmers Union plans to hold a special congress in
November to discuss the proposed restructuring of the organisation, whose
membership has been hit by President Robert Mugabe’s controversial land
“reform” programme. (Violent evictions of the last remaining commercial
farmers continue, despite the inclusive government having called for an end
to farm disturbances.)
The CFU said its top leadership spent the early part of last week in a
closed brainstorming session to map out a new strategy and restructuring
arrangements for the union.
It decided to bring in consultant Rob Ward, who is expected to tour the
country from 5-13 October to engage farmers and interested parties “and
collect their opinions and input to map out a way forward as well as
restructuring the union”.
Ward specialises in strategic planning, organisational development and
strategic mentoring and has a wealth of experience in change management in
large private sector companies, non-governmental organisations and
government departments.
He is expected to gather the farmers’ views on the restructuring of the
organisation as well as he CFU constitution.
“This would be followed by the results being presented to council at a
workshop in preparation for presentation at the proposed special congress
which will be held in November this year,” the union said in a notice to
members.
Zimbabwe’s beleaguered white farmers have shown growing frustration at
failure by the country’s coalition government and their union to end chaos
in the farming sector.
The unity government of Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has
watched helplessly as members of the security forces and hardliner activists
of Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party intensified a drive to seize all land still in
white hands.
The coalition government is yet to act to fulfil the promise to restore law
and order in the key agricultural sector, while more farms – including some
owned by foreigners and protected under bilateral investment protection
agreements between Zimbabwe and other nations- have been seized over the
past few months.
And to make matters worse, according to the CFU, police and judicial
officers who are supposed to enforce the rule of law were also among the
beneficiaries of the free-for-all land grab.