Farmers blame land grab for serious food shortages
By Alex Bell
23 November 2011
The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) has blamed the chaotic land grab campaign
for the current food shortages in the country, saying destructive land
policies have “shattered” Zimbabwe’s agriculture.
The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) has this week warned that
more than one million people in Zimbabwe will be unable to meet their food
needs in the coming ‘lean’ months. A statement from the group said failed
harvests and dry weather are partly responsible for the hunger threat.
“Most of the vulnerable households are located in the southern and western
regions which are very susceptible to dry spells,” said WFP Country Director
Felix Bamezon. “Agricultural production in these regions was once again poor
this season.”
Charles Taffs, the CFU President, told SW Radio Africa on Monday that these
predictions are “not surprising,” explaining that Zimbabwe has had food
security issues ever since Robert Mugabe launched the land grab campaign in
2000.
“Zimbabwe has been food deficient for 11 years. But it’s got nothing to do
with weather patterns. This is to all do with land policies and agricultural
policies,” Taffs said.
He added: “As long as there is no security of tenure and security of land we
are going to be food deficient.”
The Meteorological Services Department has also backed up Taffs’ statement
that the weather is not to blame, by dismissing reports that Zimbabwe is
facing a drought. The Department’s Tich Zinyemba is quoted by Newsday as
saying that there is “no evidence” to suggest a drought is on the cards.
Taffs meanwhile recalled how back in 1992, during the worst drought in
Zimbabwe’s recent history, the country had no fears of food insecurity. He
said that in a country with weather patterns like Zimbabwe, “there was
always a strategic reserve in case of a drought.” He added that it was only
because of the ZANU PF land policies that everything has changed.
“We have all the ingredients for a successful agricultural sector. But the
land policies are holding the entire country to ransom,” Taffs said.
The food situation has also been worsened by the politicisation of food.
Listeners in Bikita West have explained how MDC-T members are losing out on
receiving food packages, to the point that people are having no choice but
to join ZANU PF.
Bikitia West is an MDC-T constituency, after ZANU PF candidate Elias Musakwa
lost the position to the MDC-T’s Shoko Heya in 2008. But SW Radio Africa
listeners have said that Musakwa regularly tours the area with a truckload
of fertiliser and maize, but will not hand it over unless a ZANU PF card is
produced. It is not known where he is getting these supplies from.
On Wednesday a woman from Bikita West said she had to buy a party card and
join ZANU PF, to ensure her family can get grain. She also admitted going to
party meetings where food is often handed out, so that she can take it back
home.