Govt criticised for ‘empty’ pledge to stop farm seizures
By Alex Bell
03 January 2013
The government is facing criticism for making ‘empty’ promises to stop the
illegal seizure of internationally protected farms, while still refusing to
pay compensation for the properties it has already taken.
Lands Minister Herbert Murerwa said this week that the government had
resolved to halt the takeover of properties meant to be protected by
Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPPAs). These agreements,
signed by the Zimbabwe government and international countries with
investments in the country, are meant to offer the foreign owners some
protection and promise of compensation should their investments be taken
over.
But out of 153 BIPPA protected farms in Zimbabwe, more than 110 have been
taken over without any compensation being paid. This has led to the
government being ordered to pay compensation to a group of Dutch farmers who
approached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
(ISCID).
The Dutch farmers, kicked off their Zimbabwean farms ten years ago, have
since last year stepped up their campaign to ensure they are compensated.
According to the ISCID, the Zimbabwe government owes the farmers almost 24
million euros.
“Although under Zimbabwean law government can legally acquire such farms, in
view of the ongoing litigation in the ISCID, we have taken the decision not
to settle persons on farms covered by BIPPA for now,” Murerwa told the
Herald newspaper this week.
He added: “Government will abide by the provision of the agreement and at
the same time we do not want to increase our liabilities.” Murerwa also said
that offer letters already issued to black settlers to occupy such
properties were being revoked.
John Worsley-Worswick from Justice for Agriculture (JAG) told SW Radio
Africa on Wednesday that making such promises was like “locking the stable
door after the horse has bolted.” He said little faith can be put in such
pledges, when the government has previously ignored and flouted
international agreements and numerous court orders meant to protect property
rights.
“For example, those Dutch nationals in that international case were
guaranteed that the government would pay immediately as laid out by the
court. To date Zimbabwe has reneged on that. So why should one have any
respect whatsoever, or faith in the Zimbabwe government adhering to its
undertakings?” Worsley-Worswick said.
He also explained that the government’s refusal to honour the BIPPAs has
left people in danger, not only of losing their properties. Late last year a
Dutch farmer was shot in the face in an ongoing battle to remain on his
farm. Piet Zwanniken is lucky to be alive after the bullet went through his
nose and grazed his cheek. He told SW Radio Africa last year that he
survived an “assassination attempt” launched by a suspected CIO agent who
wants his farm.