- Dear Family and Friends,
-
- There are not many days when I do not thank God that
I am no longer a farmer in Zimbabwe. Farming, followed by politics and
journalism, is the most dangerous way of making a living in our country.
It is indeed ironic that in a country starved - of food, information and
good political governance, these are the three worst professions to belong
to.
-
- This week, a 71 year old farmer, Peeter Siverton was
murdered on his Kwekwe farm. So far the details are sketchy but Mr Siverton's
body was found mutilated and stuffed into an anthole which had been covered
with a sheet of asbestos. Both the government and the Commercial Farmers
Union have been quick to say that the murder of Mr Siverton was not political,
but everything in Zimbabwe is now directly or indirectly political. For
three years I have been wearing a small yellow ribbon in silent protest
and in support of the victims of Zimbabwe's political mayhem - this week
I wear it in memory of an elderly man who should have been surrounded by
love, laughter and grandchildren.
-
- In the same week that an old man was murdered, Parliament
was trying to push through more amendments to the "fast track"
land acquisition act to try, yet again, to add paper legality to a totally
illegal land grab. A parliamentary legal sub committee presented an adverse
report on the amendments saying they were unconstitutional. When Justice
Minister Patrick Chinamasa tried to counter the adverse report he was called
up on a point of order by opposition MP David Coltart. Coltart said that
Chinamasa could not be involved in the discussion because the Justice Minister
had a personal financial interest in the issue.
-
- Coltart said that the Justice Minister, and many other
Zanu PF MP's in the House were named as being multiple beneficiaries in
the government's allocation of seized farms and should therefore recuse
themselves. The Justice Minister immediately shouted out that Mr Coltart
was a "racist liar" and pandemonium broke out in the House. Three
MDC MP's were subsequently thrown out of Parliament for arguing. The legal
committee's report was then debated and the Speaker called for a vote.
"All those in favour say Aye" he said. All together, the Zanu
PF MP's shouted "Aye" and then realised that they had actually
just voted against themselves. They had just voted that the land acquisition
amendment was in fact unconstitutional ! In breach of all parliamentary
procedures, the Zanu PF chairman ignored the rules and called for a second
vote as if the last shout of Aye had been an illusion and this time the
government MP's voted the other way.
-
- All this may sound funny but it isn't, it's actually
tragic that we are dying and starving while educated and degreed MP's are
voting against themselves and using that pathetic word "racist"
to cover up any and all sins.What the Zimbabwe government insist has been
an "agricultural revolution" has been little more than a process
of ethnic cleansing where anyone who does not support the ruling party
has been cleansed, relieved of their homes, property, belongings, jobs
and even their lives.
-
- This week there was hope though because our only independent
daily paper, The Daily News, was back in print. Our Minister of Information
immediately filed urgent applications with the Supreme Court to have the
paper closed again so we don't know how long it will last. Even if it doesn't
last, the mere fact that the Daily News have never given up and have fought
every step of the way for freedom of speech, is cause for enormous hope
for us all. With people of such enormous courage and determination in our
society, how can there not be hope for a new Zimbabwe.
-
- Until next week,
-
- with love, cathy.
-
- Copyright cathy buckle, 24th January 2004. http://africantears.netfirms.com
My books on the Zimbabwean crisis, "African Tears" and "Beyond
Tears" are now available outside Africa from: orders@africabookcentre.com
; www.africabookcentre.com ; www.amazon.co.uk ; in Australia and New Zealand:
johnmreed@johnreedbooks.com.au ; Africa: www.kalahari.net www.exclusivebooks.com
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