Posted on 10/11/2007 5:47:41 PM PDT by blam
Blow for defiant Zimbabwe farmers
The land reform programme has been accompanied by violence
Eleven of Zimbabwe's remaining white farmers are to go on trial for defying a state eviction order after losing a bid to have the charges thrown out. The magistrate in Chegatu, north-west of Harare, reportedly accused the farmers of delaying tactics and ordered them to leave their land immediately.
A white farmers' group said the ruling was a "farce" and accused authorities of failing to follow due process.
Fewer than 400 white farmers are thought to remain in Zimbabwe.
The seizure of some 4,000 white-owned farms has seen a collapse in Zimbabwe's agricultural production.
Notices ignored
The farmers appeared in court on Thursday, having failed to respect a 30 September deadline to leave their properties, reported the news agency AFP.
Their lawyer, David Drury, put forward two arguments: first, that the charges of defying the government eviction order should be thrown out; second, that if not, the case should be referred to the Supreme Court because it touched on constitutional issues.
But the magistrate rejected both arguments.
"Despite being served with eviction notices they took no action but [decided] to ignore them, only to raise issues after the expiry and after appearing before a magistrate's court facing criminal charges," said magistrate Tinashe Ndokera, reported AFP.
"I am persuaded to agree with the state [prosecutor] that it's a delaying tactic and that there is no seriousness but a mere attempt to buy time through abuse of process. I dismiss the application."
The farmers could face up to two years in jail if found guilty, say reports.
The case provoked an angry response from Justice for Agriculture, which represents white farmers in Zimbabwe.
Its spokesman John Worsely-Worswick told the BBC that that over the past year nearly 100 farmers had been driven off their land by armed soldiers, police and the ruling Zanu-PF party's youth brigades.
However, Minister of Agriculture Rugare Gumbo told the BBC the state was using the law legitimately to redistribute land.
The only person who could give Robert Mugabe a run for his money is Hiliary!!
When I read the headline, I thought that people were giving cocaine to the farmers.
where is another Mad Mike Hoare?
Nobody cares. Nobody in the world cares.
The most horrible things happen over and over and the world says nothing.
Just yesterday someone here said they would rather be living under the law of the jungle . Well have a good look .
Racism plus Marxism = a marriage made in the seventh circle of hell.
Gee, I wonder if the Hague will help these guys. The Eurocourts beleive in justice and due process right...right? Oops, I forgot that these men are “evil honkie capitalist oppressors.” Never mind the fact that they actually produce something from their land...like FOOD!
But there is no such thing as primitive cultures.
I’m totatlly sure, the United Nations will do something about this. I mean, hey, isn’t that what they are there for?
I’m sure they’re working on their dreaded “Letter of Deep Concern” even as we speak..
If they hustle up, get sanctions going, within about 30 yrs, this simple matter will all be squared away.
“let the sanctions work, cumbuya, let the sanctions work, cumbaya...”
That fat racist pig Mugabe is in serious need of a major carpet bombing.
“The most horrible things happen over and over and the world says nothing.”
It has to be a “politically correct” cause, one that celebrities can pretend to be excited about. Zimbabwe won’t reach that point, because it’s run by a neo-Marxist black dictator.
(However, Minister of Agriculture Rugare Gumbo told the BBC the state was using the law legitimately to redistribute land.)
Talk about an oxymoron! In other words, we are legally forcefully stealing from Peter and giving to Paul!
africawinsagain...
When it was Rhodesia, it was a net exporter of food to all of southern Africa. Now they are starving. The destruction of the farming community under Mugabe is a testimony to the foolishness of socialism and an echo of the Soviet Union’s destruction of the Russian farmer under Stalin.
Except in this case, they are robbing from Peter and giving to Tweedledum.
The beneficiaries of this largesse have no idea how to use the equipment left on the farms. They don't know the first thing about crop management, they can't understand how the irrigation systems operate, and have no interest in learning. They move onto the farms, ransack the houses, kill and eat the livestock, then leave.
If ever there was a government in need of overthrowing . . .
I care. The vast majority of the folks on FR care. Snide comments aside. What would you have us do? A gang of racist marxists took over the country and a majority of the people wanted them. They want vengeance against the whites and power for themselves. They don't give a damn about their citizens. What too do? The only way to correct this situation is to invade the country, suppress the racist marxist government and their goons/supporters, establish democratic institutions, schools, free market enterprise, and a real justice system. Stay there for generations until the people internalize the message. All the while being vilified as imperialists. Then turn the nation over to the locals. And the same thing will happen again. Sometimes people have to learn lessons the hard way. And yes many innocents will suffer and die. One more thing, our nation is doing its best to place communist/socialist despots in charge of our government. Still, if I could I would try. Also, I would clean out that cess pool in Dar fur.
You are correct. Our ancestors may have to re-learn the lesson too.
I know, my friend. It’s just a cry of despair.
What did I say that was snide? It’s a cry of the heart.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.