Bitter Harvest

by Ian Smith

  MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND ENERGY, ENOS CHIKOWORE, HAS BEEN GIVEN A DECREE OF CIVIL IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX WEEKS BY A HIGH COURT JUDGE. In July 1999 judgement was awarded against him for failing to honour a Zimbabwe Banking Corporation debt of $24,268.30. In addition he was ordered to pay taxed costs of $3,513.00. He paid the debt, but not the costs – hence the civil imprisonment.

  18.02.2000 MUZENDA SUED OVER DEBT. Vice President Simon Muzenda has been ordered by a High Court Judge to pay Central African Building Society $912,798.89 with interest from 01.01.2000. In addition he received an order for the execution of his property stand in Gutu town.

  In any country believing in proper standards of justice and fair play, people guilty of the crimes mentioned in the above two cases would offer their resignation from office. But under a communist dictatorship all comrades receive presidential pardon.

  The referendum was positively rejected. More than 60% of the electorate gave a resounding ‘NO’ vote. ZANU(PF) SHOWS MUGABE A RED CARD. At their Central Committee meeting at the end of February there was unprecedented criticism of their leader, calling for his resignation in order to save the battered ruling party from further humiliation.

  08.03.2000 PARLIAMENTARY POLL DELAYED. Mugabe says the election must be held early in April even if the authorities have to work 48 hours a day to meet the deadline. But the minister responsible says the necessary preparations cannot be completed before the middle of June. Panic reigns, as every day of delay means an extra day of preparation for the newly formed opposition.

  17.03.2000 CHARGE WAR-MONGERS WITH TREASON. War veterans have threatened to stage a coup or return the country to civil war if ZANU(PF) lose the coming parliamentary elections. In reality, they are endorsing what Mugabe himself has said and done. He has made it clear that he will not allow the courts to frustrate the wishes of the people – and he claims to represent the people. He has power, confirmed by Parliament, to allow him to fiddle with election results. And ZANU(PF) are notorious for intimidating voters at election time, and in the final analysis, if needs be, rigging the results. However, the war veterans’ statement does have the effect, through the wide publicity it receives in the government controlled media, of destabilizing local public opinion and adversely affecting the confidence of external investors and our friends who are trying to assist us. Moreover, this is just one more message to our police force to turn a blind eye to those who are committing illegal acts in order to assist ZANU(PF).

  24.03.2000 INVASIONS WORRY SOUTH AFRICA. South African Defence Minister Moslua Lekota speaking at the annual Renaissance Festival in Durban said he was worried by the illegal occupation of white-owned farms by squatters in Zimbabwe, which was creating a very dangerous situation. One of the critical elements in a new Africa, he said, must be observing the law. The Festival aims at exploring ways and means to promote peace and stability on the continent.

  06.04.2000 VIOLENCE INTENSIFIES ON FARMS. There has been a wave of violent attacks on white farmers and their workers by people claiming to be war veterans. The Commercial Farmers’ Union reported 50 cases by mid-week. Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC President) and a friend were threatened with death if they did not stop their political activities. The police have stated that they are unable to comply with a court order to stop the farm invasions because they simply have not got the necessary resources to mount the exercise. In the latest development, leaders of the Commercial Farmers Union have received a warning from the Central Intelligence Organisation and senior military personnel to desist from supporting opposition parties or be faced with increasing invasions.

  14.04.2000 GOVERNMENT DEPLOYS ARMY TO DIRECT FARM INVASIONS. National Army officers openly concede that they have been deployed to co-ordinate supplies and other logistical essentials to war veterans invading farms. Plain-clothed army officers boast of the part they have played in supporting the invaders.

  We were then subjected, within the space of one week, to the dreadful, coldblooded murders of two of our well-known and highly respected farmers, carried out with the connivance of our security forces. David Stevens was having problems on his farm situated southeast of Harare alongside the main road to Mutare, the capital city of Manicaland. He went with a group of neighbouring farmers to discuss problems, which many of them were experiencing, with police at a nearby town. In the middle of the meeting a bunch of gangsters stormed in, pushed the policemen aside, dragged Stevens outside and murdered him. There have been no arrests. A few days later they attacked Martin Olds on his farm, a short distance out from Bulawayo. Olds was a leading member of the local security organisation, highly respected for his organising ability and courage. He had recently received a prestigious decoration from Mugabe (the Bronze Cross) for his bravery in rescuing a man who was being attacked by a crocodile in the Zambezi valley. The police placed a barrier outside the entrance to his house once the terrorists had entered, and prevented entry to local farmers, or the local ambulance. Olds fought them off for a number of hours, until he ran out of ammunition. They then burnt him out, and when eventually he escaped via the back door, they shot and killed him.

  The CFLJ executive ordered all Matabeleland farmers to vacate their farms, and move into Bulawayo until the crisis was over:

  Vice President Msika, who had the responsibility of dealing with the farm invasions, reaffirmed his statement that war veterans were to be removed from the farms, and that a plan of gradual evacuation was to commence. However Mugabe, on his return from a visit to Cuba, countermanded the decision and insisted that they remain on the farms.

  22.04.2000 RAPE TERROR SPARKS WHITE FLIGHT. The CFU have advised families living on farms in Matabeleland, Manicaland and Midlands provinces to move into towns after a brutal cycle of attacks and rapes unleashed by Mugabe’s mobs of war veterans.

  26.04.2000 The Presbyterian Church minister speaking at the memorial service for Martin Olds in Bulawayo blamed President Mugabe for the current bloody mayhem on commercial farms. ‘By condoning criminal action, by disregarding the courts, he puts himself alongside the criminals. He indeed is a criminal, he is the enemy of the state.’ Zimbabweans must draw world attention to the political and economic crisis in their country before current violence claims more victims. ‘Do not keep quiet, speak out, the truth shall set you free.’ Former Zimbabwe Education Minister Fay Chung, currently working for the United Nations in New York, condemned Olds’ murder. She had worked with him in his area and said that he went out of his way to help ex-combatants establish themselves as farmers, giving generously of his time and experience. She was shocked to learn that Martin Olds had been murdered in a racist attack. ‘I would like to place on record that this murder of one of the strongest supporters of ex-combatants not only in words but in deeds must be condemned without reservation.’

  There was a memorial service in Harare for David Stevens attended by some 600 friends. Maria Stevens was sitting with her son Marc (16), daughter Brenda (13) and two-year-old twins Sebastian and Warren. The clergyman taking the service said: ‘It is becoming more and more clear that this is black against black violence.’ The terrorists abducted David’s foreman, Andoche, beat him and killed him and deposited his body in the bush. He was found a week later. The five friends who tried to rescue David at the police station were savagely beaten, with three of them landing up in hospital. The clergyman went on: ‘Marc and Brenda, your father dreamed and worked for a better world, a better relation between all people. When you are growing up you must continue his dream and his work.’ There have been no arrests. Maria is continuing to live in her home. She is a person of great courage and integrity, much admired and loved by all her friends.

  Other recent headlines include: POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ESCALATE. ZANU(PF) AND NAZI PARTY. WAR VETERANS REIGN OF TERROR ON FARMS. ZANU(PF) YOUTHS USE TERROR TACTICS TO SILENCE MDC. Armed war veterans moved into a compound on a farm about 40 miles east of Harare and started burning down the houses and contents. The owner, a known supporter of the opposition pa
rty MDC, had gone to town on business. The poor workers were trying to salvage their property and clothes. ‘Why are they treating us like this? We are just farm workers struggling to make a living and feed our children,’ said one woman with tears in her eyes.

  ELECTION DATE ANNOUNCED – 24th and 25th June. Mugabe rallies flop in both Harare and Bulawayo. The first few weeks in June have proved disastrous for Mugabe. His supporters are blaming the fuel crisis for the poor attendance.

  ZANU(PF) supporters and war veterans started forcibly taking school children from schools and homes and terrorising them into attending all-night rallies. War veterans erected road blocks and MDC supporters are having their identification documents confiscated, thus denying them their vote. The police are ineffective and openly claim they have been ordered to take no actions against war veterans. Guruve District Council evicted a wildlife conservation organisation from offices they were renting, to make way for war veterans who are given free accommodation, free electricity and free water. The reason – the ZANU(PF) candidate in the coming election was a government minister requiring assistance through voter intimidation. The election result was truly a mixed bag of the 120 elected seats, with ZANU(PF) winning 62 seats while MDC secured 58. MDC gained control in the cities, while ZANU(PF) managed to scrape in, albeit with narrow majorities, in the rural constituencies. There was overwhelming evidence that voter intimidation carried the day. In any case, with the President’s right to appoint twenty members to Parliament and the Chiefs’ Council to elect ten members, it was generally believed that Mugabe had a built-in majority. However, it was significant that MDC secured 55% of the common roll votes. It is common practice that the cabinet is appointed soon after the election – normally within days. But Mugabe was faced with a delicate tactical act in order to secure his position in ZANU(PF). Some of his old loyal supporters were defeated in the election, and some of his new members of parliament, the young Turks, were openly saying that it is time for him to retire.

  The new cabinet was eventually published in the press of Sunday, 16 July. Much of the old dead wood had been culled, and amongst the new appointments were a number of capable people with reputable records of public performance. Of particular note are Dr Simba Makoni to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and Dr Nkosana Moyo to Industry and International Trade. These are the two most important portfolios if we are to succeed in restoring the bankrupt economy. But will they have freedom of decision, bearing in mind that the presidential election is in two years time and Mugabe has made it clear that it is his intention to cling on to power? He is doing well and prospering, cashing in on his position, not only in Zimbabwe, but also in the Congo. And he has a young ambitious wife who never misses an opportunity to increase her wealth through local property deals. Moreover, she is well known for her shopping excursions to Harrods in London, and on occasions has been mentioned as one of their favourite and most rewarding customers.

  17.07.2000 PRE-POLL KILLINGS TO BE BROUGHT UP IN PARLIAMENT BY MDC. Thirty-two people, all opponents of ZANU(PF), were murdered during the election campaign. The police have not made one arrest in spite of the fact that all were committed in broad daylight.

  21.07.2000 MDC PRESS FOR VIP FARM LEASES TO BE TERMINATED.Ten years ago Government acquired, paid for with tax payers’ money, nine million acres of good land for settlement of small-scale farmers. There is a long, sad story of incompetence and corruption associated with the ensuing disaster. But one section of the community were quick to exploit the glaring opportunities and moved on to a number of the best farms. Cabinet ministers and senior comrades of ZANU(PF) simply ensconced themselves on the properties and made an agreement with the authorities to pay a ridiculously low rental. I am stating the obvious when I point out that there are no signs of war vets invading these farms!

  07.08.2000 LOPES MOURNS ZIMBABWE’S LOST OPPORTUNITIES

  Finally, I close my analysis in order to meet the printer’s deadline, with a reference to comments by Dr Carlos Lopes, the United Nations Development representative, speaking at his farewell after six years in Zimbabwe. ‘I leave Zimbabwe with a sense of sadness because the country was in a better shape when I arrived than it is now. One must go back in history and recall that the implementation of the recommended plan was not consistent. While there were natural problems, most were self-inflicted. The results were devastating.’ He quoted facts to substantiate the case he had made. Poverty was increasing at 10% per annum, which is totally unacceptable. 75% of all Zimbabweans are classified as poor, and 47% as very poor. This comes from a man who has dedicated his life to improving the standard of living of the underprivileged, The crime, of course, becomes grossly enlarged when one realises the dreadful truth that we live in a country where, while the poor get poorer every day, the rich get richer and are amassing unto themselves unheard-of wealth. This is a situation which can verily be described as criminal and totally indefensible.

  In conclusion let me place on record some facts of history that prove conclusively how the truth has been distorted in order to besmirch the white man in Africa.

  Mugabe and his ZANU(PF) comrades claim, with tedious repetition, that the white people in Zimbabwe are colonialists who stole the land from the black people, the owners, and therefore the whites have no right of objection if the blacks reclaim their land. Let’s get the facts, the true position. The original inhabitants of this country were the Bushmen, those peaceful little people with their bows and arrows which they used for obtaining food. There are Bushman paintings throughout the length and breadth of the country which substantiate this. The first colonialists to immigrate into the country were the Shona-speaking people who came from the northeast. As and when they wanted more land they pushed the Bushmen westwards until they reached Betchuanaland. There they received an abrupt message from the Khamas, traditional rulers of that part of the world and forbearers of Sir Seretse Khama, and this caused them to beat a hasty retreat.

  According to the record, it was some twenty years later that the next wave of colonialists immigrated: the Matabeles led by Umsilikazi came from the northern Transvaal. This was a regiment of Zulus from Natal. They had a problem with the Zulu King Shaka, and very wisely decided to go north. This caused a further retreat eastwards by the Shonas. Approximately twenty years ensued before the next wave of colonialists immigrated, the Shangans from the eastern Transvaal. This caused a retreat northwards by the Shonas. I do not believe that anybody would argue with me when I say that in none of the three cases to which I have referred did the immigrants pay compensation for the land which they took over. Fair enough – this has been the pattern of world history going back over thousands of years of colonialist expansion.

  Our fourth case of colonialist immigration, again after a lapse of another twenty years, was Cecil Rhodes’ Pioneer column which came from Kimberley in 1890. This was part of the Rhodes’ dream of extending British influence, raising the Union Jack from Cape to Cairo. The column took the sensible precaution of steering their course away from the western areas inhabited by the Matabele who were noted for their aggressive stance towards those trespassing on their land. There were no problems with the Shonas and Shangans, who displayed a curious interest in the new arrivals and were ready to accept the opportunities and rewards offered by the new system.

  A site was chosen by the column, which was free of habitation and where water was available, to raise the Union Jack and name it Salisbury after the Prime Minister of Britain. Things ran smoothly until there was an incident in 1893 at Fort Victoria. The Matabeles carried out frequent raids into Shona territory in search of cattle and maidens. They had brought very few women with them in their original conquest. In the incident referred to above, they transgressed further into Shona territory than had previously been recorded. In addition to the booty which they obtained as a result of their raids, they were gradually pushing the Shonas eastwards out of the country which they inhabited, making available more land for Matabele occupation. However, o
n this occasion at Fort Victoria they were confronted by the local establishment and ordered to return to their own territory, in keeping with the agreement which had been made between Rhodes and Lobengula. But for some time there had been clear signs that Lobengula was encouraging his people to expand their territory and it appeared as if confrontation was inevitable. It is interesting to speculate on what would have happened if the white man, the so-called colonialist, had not come to the country. Clearly the Shonas would eventually have been pushed over the border into Mozambique. This, of course, is seldom acknowledged. Moreover, the Matabele have always had a closer relationship with our white community, probably because of their belief in a system which believed in discipline and honouring obligations, similar to our own.