Onslaught against farmers threatens future investment
By Alex Bell
19 December 2012
Future investment in Zimbabwe remains under threat, because of the ongoing
campaign to remove all commercial farmers from their land.
This week a farmer in Mashonaland West, Piet Zwanikken, was shot in the face
as part of efforts to force him to leave his farm. Zwanikken, a Dutch
national meant to be protected by an international agreement (BIPPA) between
Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, is still recovering in hospital from a serious
wound to his nose and cheek.
He has been fighting for his property rights since January after his farm
was gazetted for ‘redistribution’ by the Lands Ministry. But Zwanikken told
SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that he will do all he can to remain on his land.
This is not easily done when the legal system is biased against the farming
community. On Friday another BIPPA protected farmer, this time a South
African citizen, faces losing his farm once and for all, after years of
intimidation and harassment.
Piet Henning, who has owned land in the Chiredzi district since 1965, will
be appearing in court on charges of illegally occupying government land.
Henning told a South African newspaper that Friday’s court date is his “27th
or 28th” appearance and he expects to be found guilty.
The farm that the Land Ministry has gazetted for takeover is a small portion
of the original farm he was forced to give up as part of the land grab
campaign in 2003. Since 2008 Henning has been in and out of court trying to
secure the rights to his farm, but with little success.
Former Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President Deon Theron, who was another
victim of the land grab, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that until
property rights and the rule of law are honoured in Zimbabwe, the country
can never recover.
“We desperately need new investment, but investors need confidence and there
is no confidence in placing any investment in Zimbabwe. There are no
property rights, there is only rule by law, not rule of law,” Theron said.
Theron said the ongoing seizure of land, which is being done under the guise
of ‘indigenisation’, is “a complete farce and a vote buying gimmick,” that
does not benefit the ordinary Zimbabwean. He said that hundreds of working
Zimbabweans lose their jobs every time a commercial farm is seized, “so
there is only empowerment of the few, not the masses.”
“We all know there is a role for indigenisation, but if it’s done to garner
votes or boost ZANU PF’s popularity, then it will not work,” Theron said.