Zimbabwe's new black farmers

[shugri]

Zimbabwe's new farmers defend their gains

Under President Robert Mugabe's land reform programme, some 4,000 white farmers have been driven away and their land given to black farmers. The BBC's Dan Isaacs talks to Zimbabwe's new farming class.
Endy Mhlanga, a war veteran of Zimbabwe's war of independence, sits with me in the garage of his recently acquired farmhouse.
A pot of maize meal bubbles on an open fire beside us.
It is getting dark, but there is no electricity. Power cuts - often lasting days - are a regular feature of life here. And the mosquitoes are descending.
"As war veterans we are satisfied that the programme of land reform has succeeded," Mr Mhlanga tells me.
"It might not be 100%, but now the land is with the people of Zimbabwe."

Had they agreed to share nicely, none of these troubles would have happened

Endy Mhlanga
Land-owner

Mr Mhlanga's farm is on prime agricultural land, but now most of it is lying fallow.
What was once a large commercial farm now produces nothing for export, and where once there were intensively irrigated fields of wheat and tobacco, rough grassland now stretches into the distance.
One small field of maize is growing near the farmhouse, a few turkeys cluck their way around an old tennis court, and a dozen or so cattle graze at the bottom of the garden.
"We have the ability to work on the land," explains Mr Mhlanga, "but we're prevented from doing so because of a lack of funding.
"Investors aren't forthcoming, so we aren't able to do much with the land. For us, this is really a silent war."

A decade ago, there were more than 4,000 white-owned farms in Zimbabwe.
But years of President Mugabe's land reform programmes have forced these farmers out, markedly changing the Zimbabwean farming scene and jarring the agriculture-based economy.
Today, there are just a few dozen left, and many of those have now been served with eviction orders.
As a former secretary-general of the country's pro-Mugabe war veterans association, Mr Mhlanga was actively involved in those evictions, and now recalls the violent tactics used to force the white farmers to leave.
"I don't have any regrets," he tells me. "Had they agreed to share nicely, none of these troubles would have happened."
The collapse in agricultural output across the country has had catastrophic consequences for Zimbabwe's economy.
Some four million people have fled the country over the past decade, and although economic conditions have improved recently, the overwhelming majority of those who stayed no longer have formal employment.
Rose garden
Johannes Vengesai lost his job when the farm he was working on was occupied by the "war veterans".
He was thrown out of his home as well, and he now lives with his family in a disused tobacco silo.

Stan and Jane Kasukuwere say their new land is a birthright

It is a squatters' life - he has been threatened with eviction from here too but says he has got nowhere else to go.
"What bleeds my heart," says Joseph, a farmer who was evicted from an adjacent citrus farm, "is that if we leave the land lying idle like this, we're not growing any future for ourselves."

As we look out over thousands of untended citrus trees he explains that all they produce now are shrivelled, bitter lemons.
"As a country we are losing millions of dollars, and as ordinary Zimbabweans we can no longer afford to send our children to school."
But it is a very different country for those who have directly benefited from the land reform.
At the farmhouse now owned by Stan and Jane Kasukuwere, lunch has been set out in the garden under a spreading jacaranda tree.

The well-tended lawn sweeps down to a rose garden and swimming pool. Beyond the fence, their land stretches as far as the eye can see.

If we leave the land lying idle like this, we're not growing any future for ourselves

Joseph
Evicted famer

Mr and Mrs Kasukuwere are supporters of President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, and they have been allocated this previously white-owned farm on rich agricultural land.
It is not long before the lunch talk turns to politics.
"This is my country, the land is my birthright," Mrs Kasukuwere tells me.
"I feel sorry for the previous white owners of this farm, but I don't feel guilty. It's a tough world."
"What Mugabe has done is break the ice," says Mr Kasukuwere.
"He's the first African leader to stand up publicly and criticise our former colonial masters. Mugabe is one hell of an African leader."
'Revolution'
A minority of well-connected Zimbabweans have benefited from the reforms, but the overwhelming majority are far poorer than they were a decade ago.
And because of the violent and politicised way it has been carried out, support for President Mugabe has fallen sharply.
But to challenge the reform process is to be seen as both a colonial puppet and against black empowerment.
So, despite his lack of popularity, Mr Mugabe's political opponents have so far found it impossible to defeat him.

Many farm workers have been left unemployed as a result of the seizures

This is why for the time being - and after long and slow deliberation - they have entered into an alliance with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
It is this unity government that has brought about a degree of economic stability, and a reduction in political violence.
But the farm invasions have continued to this day, and no political group within this fragile coalition has called for them to be stopped, let alone reversed.
Back in Harare, it was not hard to track down the owner of one of the abandoned citrus plantations I had visited.
"You've got to understand, that we've been through a revolution," explains Bright Matonga, a former government minister, and currently a Zanu-PF member of parliament.
"Things have calmed down now, and soon production will pick up."
When I asked him about his forlorn citrus tree plantations and the destitute workers living nearby, he blamed a lack of credit available from banks and the "sanctions" being imposed on Zimbabwe.
"I think, rather than to criticise the land reform process," he argued, "you have to understand that it had to take place and that it is now irreversible."



I highly disagree who ever wrote this news does not consider the socio economic history of zibwabwe (past and present)

 

[Ubungoubungo]

hata kama ni hivyo, bora wamegawana keki ya taifa lao, hiyo ardhi ilikuwa ya mababu zao, kama wakishindw akuilima, watauza na pesa watatumia kwenye vitu vingine. wala siwalaumu. this is the situation badala ya mzungu kuondoshwa, do you want to mean that, ilikuwa kosa kuwaondoa wazungu waliokuwa wamenyang'anya ardhi kwa hawa watu? wanaonekana masikini hivyo kwasababu ya unyonyaji wa walowezi wa kizungu, wazungu waliokuwa wanakaa humu katika nchi hiyohiyo, ni mabilionea, lakini wananchi ndo hao hapo, ardhi likuwa yao. wakati mwingine hata kama kuna garama ya kuumia kidogo, bora upate haki yako uweke mfukoni, hata kama utaumia kidogo, lakini umepata haki yako na moyo umetulia.

 

[mmakonde]

hata kama ni hivyo, bora wamegawana keki ya taifa lao, hiyo ardhi ilikuwa ya mababu zao, kama wakishindw akuilima, watauza na pesa watatumia kwenye vitu vingine. wala siwalaumu. this is the situation badala ya mzungu kuondoshwa, do you want to mean that, ilikuwa kosa kuwaondoa wazungu waliokuwa wamenyang'anya ardhi kwa hawa watu? wanaonekana masikini hivyo kwasababu ya unyonyaji wa walowezi wa kizungu, wazungu waliokuwa wanakaa humu katika nchi hiyohiyo, ni mabilionea, lakini wananchi ndo hao hapo, ardhi likuwa yao. wakati mwingine hata kama kuna garama ya kuumia kidogo, bora upate haki yako uweke mfukoni, hata kama utaumia kidogo, lakini umepata haki yako na moyo umetulia.

Mugabe amewapa cronies zake,ambao hawajui chochote kuhusu farming.Mashamba mengi sasa ni mbuga,hakuna kinacholimwa.Mugabe hana tofauti na current leaders wa afrika,greedy etc.Analia foul kwa sababu mke wake hawezi kufanya shopping France etc.Wasanii wetu wa CCM kila siku wako Ulaya,assume EU iwafunie itakuwaje.

Fact ni kwamba Zimbwabwe watu wanalala njaa,maana Commercial farming hamna tena.Ubungo ubungo waulize Wim wengi watakwambia vizuri.Wengi wanaadhirika South Afrika,wengi wanaomba asylum UK kwa wazungu waliowafukuza.Huwezi kuona mweusi wa South Afrika anaomba asylum Ulaya.
Kuna propaganda kuhusu Mugabe hasa kutoka watu kama nyie UbungoUbungo ambao hamjui facts.Kumbuka Mugabe ameanza mambo ya kugawa ardhi baada sas
ya watu wake kutaka kumtoa madarakani kwa kura!Hapo ilikuwa kosa!Sasa huyu dikteta yuko madarakani 30 years,eti kwa kuwa ni mweusi mwenzetu tumsupport,no way.

 

[Mahesabu]

western propaganda again.....!VIVA LA MUGABE......VIVA ZIMBABWE....!

 

[Nyambala]

Kama umewahi kupita, kuishi au kutembelea Zimbabwe before 2001 you will understand how Mugabe and his cronies raped that countrie's agriculture.

 

[Ubungoubungo]

Mugabe amewapa cronies zake,ambao hawajui chochote kuhusu farming.Mashamba mengi sasa ni mbuga,hakuna kinacholimwa.Mugabe hana tofauti na current leaders wa afrika,greedy etc.Analia foul kwa sababu mke wake hawezi kufanya shopping France etc.Wasanii wetu wa CCM kila siku wako Ulaya,assume EU iwafunie itakuwaje.

Fact ni kwamba Zimbwabwe watu wanalala njaa,maana Commercial farming hamna tena.Ubungo ubungo waulize Wim wengi watakwambia vizuri.Wengi wanaadhirika South Afrika,wengi wanaomba asylum UK kwa wazungu waliowafukuza.Huwezi kuona mweusi wa South Afrika anaomba asylum Ulaya.
Kuna propaganda kuhusu Mugabe hasa kutoka watu kama nyie UbungoUbungo ambao hamjui facts.Kumbuka Mugabe ameanza mambo ya kugawa ardhi baada sas
ya watu wake kutaka kumtoa madarakani kwa kura!Hapo ilikuwa kosa!Sasa huyu dikteta yuko madarakani 30 years,eti kwa kuwa ni mweusi mwenzetu tumsupport,no way.

unayo haki yakuongea mkuu, lakini namba nikukumbushe kuwa, suala la kugawa ardhi lilikuwepo tangu zimbabwe ilipopata uhuru wake, sio juzi juzi tu hapa kama unavyofikiria. nafikiri wewe ndo unahitaji kufanya research kwanza kabla haujaja hapa kuchangia. kwani Lancaster agreement ilikuwa lini mzee, ni juzijuzi tu hapa kama unavofikiria wewe? haujui kuwa wakati wa kupigania uhuru wa zimbabwe moja ya mambo waliyopigania ilikuwa kupigania ardhi ambayo wazungu walinyang'anya kwa waafrica? Ukweli ni kwamba, ni kweli kabisa raa wa zimbabwe wengi wanapata shida sana kwasababu wazungu hawashikilii mashamba haya tena, hivyo ajira ya kwenye mashamba watu hawana tena, maisha ni magumu. lakini, the issue here siyo ajira kwenye mashamba, wala si kodi na pesa za kigeni kuingia zimbabwe kwasababu ya mashamba ya wazungu, the issue ni dukuduku ambalo watu weusi walikuwa nalo wakati wa ukoloni hadi baada ya kupata uhuru, na waliahidiwa kwamba the issue of land would be resolved na ardhi ikagawiwa kwa watu wa rangi zote, sio kufika hapa mzungu anamiliki ekari elfu kumi, au alfu mbili ardhi aliyonyang'ang'anya kwa babu yako wakati wewe hata kuweka pa kulima mchicha tu hauna, na mzungu mwenyewe aliletwa kama mlowezi na waingereza, pesa zake anaweka uingereza, pale anafanya kama sehemu ya kuchumia mali tu, damu yake ni ya kiingereza na anaweza kuwa proud kama hataitwa mzimbabwe halisi bali mzimbabwe mlowezi wa kiingereza.

kukufahamisha, ni hatari sana watu kuishi na dukuduku moyoni, hata kama kuna faida unaiona inapatikana kutokana na kitu fulani, kama hicho kitu kinaleta dukuduku moyoni mwa watu, ni hatari/bom la baadaye, litakapokuja kulipuka, inakuwa kama iliyotokea Rwanda. wazungu wa zimbabwe walikuwa kwenye mazingira yale kama ya rwanda. watu weusi walikuwa wana mpressure mugabe agawe ardhi, na mugabe hakuwa na jinsi kwasababu watu wanaompa kura walikuwa wameahidiwa ardhi na yeye anatakiwa awape. CHUKI KUBWA ILISAMBAA kwa watu weusi dhidi ya wazungu, na siku yoyote kama kungetokea kama mtu akaanzisha kavita kidogo, genocide would be committed in that country, ili kuzuia hiyo, ni bora kupasua yai bovu mapemaaaa likanuka halafu ukasafisha kabla wageni hawajaja, kuliko kuliacha halijapasuliwa wageni wakaja na likapasuka bahati mbaya, utaharibu mkutano mzee.

ILIVYOTOKEA RWANDA kama mfano wake ni, watusi walipendelwa sana na wabelgiji wakati wa ukoloni, na walikuwa regarded as superior kwa wahutu, just kwasababu ya principle ya divide and rule. traditionally pia, watusi walikuwa wanajifanya wako juu kuliko wahutu. wabelgiji waliwasomesha shule watusi kuliko wahutu, hivyo kukawa na wasomi watusi kuliko wahutu. dukuduku hili liliendelea tangu miaka ya sitini, bomu lilikuja kulipuka miaka ya 94, hapo ndo kile kilichokuwapo kwenye mioyo ya watu ndo kilidhihirika. kama wanyarwanda wangalijua kitakachotokea 94, wange resolve issue ya ethnicity mapemaaaa, na wahutu wasingeona watusi ni maadui...go to youtube angalia movie za THE GHOST OF RWANDA, utaona namna wahutu walivyokuwa hawana hata huruma kwa watusi, hii ni kwasababu dukuduku lao juu ya watusi lilidumu mioyoni mwao kwa muda mrefu sana.

hii ndo iliyokuwa inaenda kutokea zimbabwe miaka ya nyuma, na mugabe akaamua kuvuja yai bovu mapema kabla wageni hawajafika, ili pengine atapata muda wa kusafisha mazingira, akaendelea na maisha mapyaaa. CHA AJABU NI KWAMBA, watu wengi wanaichukulia hii issue kwa ushabiki kwasababu wako manipulated na western countries, hao wazungu inawauma sana kuona walowezi wenzao wamenyang'anywa mashamba, si unajua mkuki kwa nguruwe!, NINACHOSEMA NI KWAMBA, NI KWELI KWAMBA WAZIMBABWE WANAPATA SHIDA, lakini kwasababu ya ugumu wa maisha, kwasababu ya dukuduku la umasikini wakati wanajua ya kuwa kuna watu mabilionea walionyang'ang'anya mashamba yao miaka ya nyuma, KUNA BOM LILIKUWA LINAJITENGENEZA, NA ILIKUWA NI LAZIMA KULITEGUA MAPEMAAAA, ILI KUANZA MAISHA MAPYA, HATA KAMA WATU WENGINE WASIOELEWA KAMA WEWE, AU WAZIMBABWE WENYEWE WATAUMIA KIDOGO.

Nenda leo zimbabwe, kafanya tafiti angalia watu wangapi wanasapoti kugawanywa ardhi, na wangapi hawasapoti, wale wasiosapoti utakuta hawana msingi wowote, bali wanashikilia maneno ya Uingereza na marekani tu. usiwaongelee wazimbabwe, wewe hapa umekaa bongo kuna ardhi ya kumwaga usifikiri na zimbabwe kuko kama hapa. fanya tafiti kwanza. asante.