PRESS STATEMENT
The Commercial Farmers’ Union of Zimbabwe – 27 October 2009
Productive commercial farmers continue to be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office. Currently this figure stands at 152 farmers. Several other farmers are facing forced evictions, illegal possession of farm equipment and materials in the presence of both beneficiaries and Government authorities. This is clearly in violation of the terms of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
The impact of these prosecutions and occurrences country wide on the current summer cropping program is disastrous.
The Commercial Farmers’ Union therefore calls upon Government to immediately stablise the current situation as a matter of urgency. This call is made in the interests of the Nation as a whole.
As commercial farmers, we are prepared to contribute to Zimbabwe’s food self sufficiency, but can only do so given the opportunity.
Full production of commercial farmland would alleviate the necessity for the constant importation of essential food to Zimbabwe.
We now call upon Government to clarify whether white commercial farmers have any role to play in the future of food production in Zimbabwe.
END
DEON THERON
PRESIDENT
COMMERCIAL FARMERS’ UNION OF ZIMBABWE