Mugabe shows SADC the finger
Posted by ZDN on September 2, 2009
Harare – Barely 24 hours after SADC Chairman Jacob Zuma left Harare after an official visit, Zimbabwean commercial farmer Ben Freeth’s homestead was burned down, followed by the other farmhouse on the property – Mike Campbell’s farmhouse.
The Campbell homestead is also on Mt Carmel farm (bought in 1999 with a certificate of non-interest from the Government) where Ben Freeth’s homestead, linen factory and 7 workers’ houses were razed to the ground on Sunday. (30 August).
Mr Campbell is Ben Freeth’s father in law and has not yet recovered from the beating he took from Zanu-PF militia in June 2008.
Mt Carmel was invaded by thugs under orders from Nathan Shamuyarira, ZanuPF Secretary for Information.
These incidents closely follow a visit to Zimbabwe by President Jacob Zuma, a few days after he was guest of honour at the Harare Agricultural Show. In a speech at the show, the South African President, who is also currently Chairman of SADC, gave a clear indication that Zimbabwe’s GPA government should let farmers produce their crops in order to feed the country and to implement the power-sharing agreement.
The arson attacks on Mount Carmel farm are a deliberate insult to Jacob Zuma, as well as to SADC and to the SADC Tribunal in Windhoek, which ruled in favour of Ben Freeth and 79 other farmers who initiated a class action against Robert Mugabe’s government.
Zanu-PF is currently on a campaign to prove that the SADC Tribunal in Windhoek has not been properly constituted and its judgments are therefore null and void.
Zimbabwe’s Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa in a statement dated 7 August 2009, said the SADC court did not exist by law and as such Zimbabwe would not appear before it anymore, and neither would Government be bound by any decisions already made or future ones emanating from there.
Zimbabwe has consistently appeared before the Tribunal since 2007 and has accepted its authority until now.
Zimbabwe is using a technicality whereby it and and nine other SADC members are yet to ratify both the Protocol creating the Tribunal and a subsequent amendment to that document.
President Zuma has a key opportunity at the forthcoming SADC summit in Kinshasa, to have all SADC protocols regularised and to pass a resolution upholding the Tribunal’s judgments since its inception in 1992.
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09-19-2009
9:24 am
Some1 Pissed
This is bull… why won’t he retire!
10-22-2009
7:56 pm
Samatha de Bruyn
Mr Freeth and his Family deserve the greatest respect for fighting for what is right: their right to life and those of their workers. No words can describe your bravery but we have so much respect for you. I have only seen the trailer to the documentary and for those of us who have been touched by those who wish to harm us only then can we really understand. Good luck to the Freeth family, may God continue to be with you and we will continue to support you albeit for now it be in prayer. Ex SA’s in Kent, UK
01-02-2011
5:54 am
Chris Moore
I watched “Mugabe and the White African” last night and felt the usual feelings of revulsion at the tyranny and barbarism of the Zimbabwean Govt towards Ben Freeth and his family.
The defining moment for me though was when the Zimbabwean legal team walked out of the SADC tribunal when their efforts to delay the case further were rejected. This really showed the contempt Mugabe has for due process and the rule of law and his total disregard for the property rights of white farmers.
To Mr. Freeth, Mr. Campbell and others: I salute your courage and determination.