via Hundreds left unemployed after fresh farm seizures | SW Radio Africa Alex Bell on Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Almost 900 farm workers have lost their jobs since January 1st as a result of a recent spate of farm invasions across Zimbabwe, which have seen more than 40 properties face threats.
Properties in Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Midlands and elsewhere have faced varying levels of threat and, according to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), eight properties have been seized and the commercial farmers forced to leave.
The seizures have allegedly been done in the name of ‘land reform’, the ZANU PF policy that has destroyed the agricultural sector since it was launched over a decade ago.
ZCTU secretary general Japhet Moyo said the latest land grabs had resulted in 890 farm workers losing their jobs, contributing to the 9,617 countrywide job losses recorded since January 1st.
Commercial Farmers’ Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) president Charles Taffs confirmed that about 40 properties have been under threat this year, but he explained most of the issues had been “stabilised.”
“I say stabilized, but not resolved. The uncertainty surrounding the land issue, land rights and land access, remains. And what we’re seeing in most cases is opportunism, with individuals trying to take advantage of this uncertainty. The overall perception is that farming in Zimbabwe is still a high risk practice,” Taffs said.
He added: “We need to stabilize the land question once and for all. Let’s get this thing settled and have a system where we can turn agriculture around, on the back of which we can turn the entire economy around.”
He explained that the confusion about the government’s land policy, as well as a lack of property rights, means even ‘beneficiaries’ of seized land do not have any confidence. Resettled farmers have never been granted the title deeds to the properties they received, and in some instance some resettled, small scale farmers, have faced threat of eviction.
“So how secure are they? They do not have title deed so they do not have confidence,” Taffs said.
COMMENTS
At a time when the country is producing one third of their needs and they are asking the world to feed them they still persist with their racist agenda. Stop the aid!
i agree, stop this aid, its been politicized anyway,and prevents the two “sides” from sitting down and solving the problems in a sustainable manner and in a way that will restore national pride!!
Bob spent a lot on cars for his shamwaris so he can not afford the school payments or to import food…….and the Poms bail him out……they are idiots.
Bob knows the English are idiots thats why his laughing all the way to the bank. The fools.
You certainly got that right !!!
Because of the boycott of the meeting between AU and EU, Mugabe discovers he who invades and mistreats his land in front of him while those who never reveal the aggression of west can simply attend the conference; in this regard, can black Africans observe and eyewitness the European’s countries’ elections and say something! no never! WHY???? while west interfere whatever Africans act; it is rival to say hundreds are jobless, it is not their concern, we didn’t ask them to feed Africans; Africans are rich.
Umaari, you and your friend Bob spend too much time berating the West who actually dont care one fig about you and what you and your ignorant presidents do in the name of the “People”. They just sigh and send more money, why, only they and God knows. Your biggest enemy is yours and your presidents ignorance, which gets worse by the year. Probably due to Bob keeping his people ignorant because everyone knows that makes you and your friends easier to fool and rule. you need to stop looking west and start looking at your riches which look like poverty to everyone else with a brain.
Once upon a time, probably before you were born, Zimbabwe had water, electricity, free schooling, great hospitals and jobs. Now that Bob has increased your riches, you have little of any of these things and the west does not care. The Chinese will sort out Bobs wealth every time they take over your mines, your fields, your shops, but I dont think you will get a lot out of it. Keep your eye and your grievances at home and help sort them out.
Tosvika kupi veduwe nhai?