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Zimbabwe - Hounded out -- Forced to Flee
BBC News ^
| February 14, 2003
Posted on 02/15/2003 5:04:22 AM PST by Clive
Correspondent shows a first hand account of one family's struggle to defend their land and their lives against government supporters in Zimbabwe.
Until the late 90s, Iain and Kerry Kay and their five children lived a happy and prosperous life on their 5000 hectare farm in Zimbabwe.
The farm supported 500 people, workers and their children, and boasted a school, a pub, a women's club and a health worker.
But government land reforms in the late 90s shattered their world.
The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, pledged to give white-owned farms to the black rural poor in order to right the wrongs of British colonialism.
Squatters were encouraged to take over the farms by force, using intimidation and violence.
On the 3rd April 2000 Iain Kay became the first farmer to be attacked.
Lucky escape
Using their DV camera, the family filmed events as they unfolded. They always believed that this was not about land, but an attempt by Robert Mugabe to crush political opposition.
Kerry Kay: Determined to remain in Zimbabwe Iain Kay was a keen opposition supporter - as was the first white farmer to be killed, David Stevens.
White farmers were being punished along with hundreds of black Zimbabweans for not supporting President Mugabe.
The camera became a weapon against Mugabe's private army as it attempted to drive them off their land.
But in March 2002 they were forced to flee.
Country in ruins
The Kays' footage was was smuggled out of the country over several months.
Their intimate, first-hand account of the downfall of Zimbabwe also tracks the fate of the 500 workers from their farm.
Whatever Mugabe's true motives for land reform, their film shows the worst affected to be the black rural classes, the very people Mugabe vowed to help.
1.5 million people dependent on the farms have lost their jobs and their homes.
Hundreds of thousands are fleeing over its borders to escape economic collapse, famine and political persecution.
Oppressive media laws prevent local and international journalists investigating the full extent of what is going on. It is now against the law in Zimbabwe to criticise Mugabe or the state.
Even landless Mugabe supporters who violently took over the farms are now being moved off to make room for the President's more important cronies - members of the military, the police and the business community.
Determined
In Zimbabwe 90% of commercial farming has come to a standstill, helping to precipitate economic crisis and famine where only a few opportunists and the wealthy survive.
Most scandalous of all, the government is actively denying international food aid to those perceived to be opposition supporters.
This month the EU will decide whether to renew its travel ban on Mugabe and various members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite.
Members of the Commonwealth will also decide whether or not to lift Zimbabwe's suspension.
We look forward to our new Zimbabwe
Kerry Kay The Kays are passionate
about the country they call home. They are determined to remain in Zimbabwe.
Kerry says: "Once you're born and bred in Africa, it's in your blood."
At the end of 2002, the family travelled to South Africa to do interviews for Correspondent. They are now back in Zimbabwe and staying in rented accommodation.
As Zimbabwe plunges in to ever deeper crisis Kerry Kay continues to hope that change will come.
She says: "We look forward to our new Zimbabwe and it's going to be the jewel of Africa, without any shadow of a doubt."
Zimbabwe - Hounded out - will be broadcast on BBC Two, Sunday, 16 February, 2003 at 1800 GMT.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: africawatch; zimbabwe
1
posted on
02/15/2003 5:04:23 AM PST
by
Clive
To: *AfricaWatch; Cincinatus' Wife; sarcasm; Travis McGee; happygrl; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel; ...
-
2
posted on
02/15/2003 5:04:42 AM PST
by
Clive
To: Clive
Would be easier on the eyes if the article weren't in italics.
I've been thoroughly disgusted that the world has stood by and let this thug ruin a country while starving and murdering its people.
I hope everyone realizes that the French are defending Mugabe's rights to travel. The French are as evil as Saddam and Mugabe.
3
posted on
02/15/2003 5:12:17 AM PST
by
demkicker
(I wanna kick some commie butt)
To: demkicker
I agree:
Correspondent shows a first hand account of one family's struggle to defend their land and their lives against government supporters in Zimbabwe.
Until the late 90s, Iain and Kerry Kay and their five children lived a happy and prosperous life on their 5000 hectare farm in Zimbabwe.
The farm supported 500 people, workers and their children, and boasted a school, a pub, a women's club and a health worker.
But government land reforms in the late 90s shattered their world.
The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, pledged to give white-owned farms to the black rural poor in order to right the wrongs of British colonialism.
Squatters were encouraged to take over the farms by force, using intimidation and violence.
On the 3rd April 2000 Iain Kay became the first farmer to be attacked.
Lucky escape
Using their DV camera, the family filmed events as they unfolded. They always believed that this was not about land, but an attempt by Robert Mugabe to crush political opposition.
Kerry Kay: Determined to remain in Zimbabwe Iain Kay was a keen opposition supporter - as was the first white farmer to be killed, David Stevens.
White farmers were being punished along with hundreds of black Zimbabweans for not supporting President Mugabe.
The camera became a weapon against Mugabe's private army as it attempted to drive them off their land.
But in March 2002 they were forced to flee.
Country in ruins
The Kays' footage was was smuggled out of the country over several months.
Their intimate, first-hand account of the downfall of Zimbabwe also tracks the fate of the 500 workers from their farm.
Whatever Mugabe's true motives for land reform, their film shows the worst affected to be the black rural classes, the very people Mugabe vowed to help.
1.5 million people dependent on the farms have lost their jobs and their homes.
Hundreds of thousands are fleeing over its borders to escape economic collapse, famine and political persecution.
Oppressive media laws prevent local and international journalists investigating the full extent of what is going on. It is now against the law in Zimbabwe to criticise Mugabe or the state.
Even landless Mugabe supporters who violently took over the farms are now being moved off to make room for the President's more important cronies - members of the military, the police and the business community.
Determined
In Zimbabwe 90% of commercial farming has come to a standstill, helping to precipitate economic crisis and famine where only a few opportunists and the wealthy survive.
Most scandalous of all, the government is actively denying international food aid to those perceived to be opposition supporters.
This month the EU will decide whether to renew its travel ban on Mugabe and various members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite.
Members of the Commonwealth will also decide whether or not to lift Zimbabwe's suspension.
We look forward to our new Zimbabwe
Kerry Kay The Kays are passionate
about the country they call home. They are determined to remain in Zimbabwe.
Kerry says: "Once you're born and bred in Africa, it's in your blood."
At the end of 2002, the family travelled to South Africa to do interviews for Correspondent. They are now back in Zimbabwe and staying in rented accommodation.
As Zimbabwe plunges in to ever deeper crisis Kerry Kay continues to hope that change will come.
She says: "We look forward to our new Zimbabwe and it's going to be the jewel of Africa, without any shadow of a doubt."
Zimbabwe - Hounded out - will be broadcast on BBC Two, Sunday, 16 February, 2003 at 1800 GMT.
4
posted on
02/15/2003 5:19:03 AM PST
by
backhoe
(A society that doesn't trust honest Citizens with guns is a Society that I don't much trust...)
To: demkicker
The only part of the article showing in italics on my browser is the first paragraph and the last one which BBC had italicizes and which I formatted that way to conform. Apologies if it shows differently on your browser.
It is not my browser that interprets the formatting, it is the html interpreter used by Free Republic.
Please tell me exactly what you are seeing.
Perhaps I have to go back to the old way of putting tags in every paragraph.
5
posted on
02/15/2003 5:21:45 AM PST
by
Clive
To: backhoe
Thank you.
6
posted on
02/15/2003 5:22:56 AM PST
by
Clive
To: Clive
You bet... I have trouble reading italics, too.
7
posted on
02/15/2003 5:25:26 AM PST
by
backhoe
("Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...")
To: Clive
The entire article showed up in bold italics on my browser.
8
posted on
02/15/2003 5:32:35 AM PST
by
demkicker
(I wanna kick some commie butt)
To: Clive
bttt
9
posted on
02/15/2003 5:53:58 AM PST
by
Dante3
To: demkicker
Thank you.
I had thought that I did not have to close the tag if it ended on a paragraph break. Loooks like if it is a double tag they both need to be closed.
Yet, my browser (Opera 6.1.1. under linux) is reporting the formatting exactly as I intended.
Just to be safe, i will close all my tags until I can find out from Free Republic just what is the correct protocol.
10
posted on
02/15/2003 5:59:37 AM PST
by
Clive
To: Clive
All in bold italics for me too, running MS IE 4.0.
Source shows:
< small >Posted on < b >02/15/2003 5:04 AM PST< /b > by < a href="/perl/profile?u=4763" >< font color=black >< b >Clive< /b >< /font >< /a >< /small >< br > < p >
< I >< b >Correspondent shows a first hand account of one family's struggle to defend their land and their lives
11
posted on
02/15/2003 6:50:53 AM PST
by
Mackey
(Whoopass vs. Jihad-- I know which way I'm betting!)
To: Clive; TEXASPROUD; JanL
Any chance of that BBC show being recorded and offered for copyng on FR?
12
posted on
02/15/2003 8:24:27 AM PST
by
Travis McGee
(----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
To: Clive
Rhodesia was a beautiful country before Mugabe. The flame lilies, the wildlife, friendly people.
I am glad the story of the horrors of the Zanu PF against the peaceful farmers will be told on the BBC.
These people were betrayed at the negotiation table. They deserved more support than they recieved.
My greatest consolation is in a few years AIDS will have cleared out the bad guys.
13
posted on
02/15/2003 8:33:07 AM PST
by
WhirlwindAttack
(Can we do a reconquista of the african continent? We're gonna need a place for us blancos to go to;)
To: Travis McGee
My problem is that Auntie has changed its Real Video pages such that they won't let me in unless I am using Windows or Mac.
Linux can use RealPlayer but if the BBC does not see a Windows or Mac Real Player tag it assumes that my system can't use it. This is very recent, within the last month.
I have Windows aboard because my son uses it (where did i go wrong!) but I resent having to reboot to watch Auntie.
14
posted on
02/15/2003 8:57:50 AM PST
by
Clive
To: Clive
I hope somebody sees this thread and copies it.
15
posted on
02/15/2003 8:59:17 AM PST
by
Travis McGee
(----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
To: Travis McGee; MadIvan
Perhaps madivan or one of the other Brits can check if there will be a realplayer or other internet viewer version available and if it can be copied to Free Republic.
I too would want to see it, but I am not sure if i can get it even on Windows and if so, how to reproduce it on a FR thread.
16
posted on
02/15/2003 9:02:49 AM PST
by
Clive
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