Sad News. Zimbabwe Becomes a Crazy, Violent Country in 2000.

The heat wave continues. Oh, for some rain.

Really sad news this week. Chris Thorne succumbed to his cancer and has left us. Chris was my partner in business and a good friend and confidant. Among many things, together we moved many farmers to Zambia from Zimbabwe, contributing to the rebirth of commercial agriculture in that country. All who know Chris will know he was a strong man with an impressive work ethic, ensuring his family was cared for even during the horrific times of the farm invasions. I will recount some of our adventures at a later date in my blog. I will miss him. Rozanne and I offer our sincere condolences to Rose, his children Rosanne, Nicky, Marc, Duncan, their families and Chris’s grandchildren. Goodbye Chris. The picture below shows Chris at his happiest with all his family around.

Chris was the epitome of the family man

Moving back to that dread-filled year of 2000.

"We are actually very happy for them to be there," Mugabe said about the war vets being on the farms.

Mugabe then gave several warnings to the farmers not to resist the land invasions, despite the obvious violence instigated by cadres from his party.

"We appeal for the farmers to be reasonable... Let there be no clashes between them and the war veterans," he said. "There have been some cases of violence, but many of these have been due to resistance by the farmers." - Mugabe. 

How in the world were the white commercial farmers and their workers meant to protect themselves and their property when this was the attitude at the very top? Be reasonable, he said, as our crops and belongings were either destroyed or stolen, while at the same time, beatings and murders spread, including the rape of many workers' wives and children. All of this was in the public domain. I hate to think, perhaps you can guess Mugabe’s instructions to the security agencies behind closed doors, especially the leadership of the perpetrators of the violence and those who should have protected us under the law of the country. The ‘war vets’ who seemed to take to their task with much gusto, obviously because of the knowledge that they would be immune to prosecution. This knowledge saw their numbers swell as street thugs, political opportunists, and even the unemployed saw prospects, perhaps for land, loot, or just to enact violence. Yes, many enjoy violence for its sake, and it seems to be addictive.

“The majority of the farmers were of British descent, many of them the sons and daughters of servicemen who fought in the World Wars for Britain. Little wonder, like Smith, they felt betrayed as Britain stood back and did nothing to stop their persecution.” - Peter McSporran

The MDC almost became as prevalent as the ZANU(PF) cockerel in the build-up to the 2000 elections

Following the Mugabe-sponsored Referendum defeat, mainly due to the politicking of the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) and general disquiet regarding the economy and falling employment, the MDC suddenly was seen as a real opposition which could unseat the ruling party. Despite the rising violence against them and their supporters, they were prepared to contest the national parliamentary elections due to take place in June 2000. So, the MDC found themselves to be deemed enemies of the state and suffered the same violence as the farmers. In fact, worse in extent, but similar in action. Not a village, town or city would escape it. Beatings, houses destroyed, and murder were to be seen on international news channels. Inadvertently, the news channels did precisely what Mugabe wanted; to stir fear and subdue the population from supporting any possible political challenge to the ruling party before international monitors arrived to oversee the election. 

“Yes, the TV and news channels depicting political violence make for good viewing numbers and international awareness. Unfortunately, it also terrifies the victims and those awaiting to become victims in the knowledge that no help will be forthcoming.” - Peter McSporran

I often wondered how the news crews got such detailed footage; it could only have been with the tacit agreement of the perpetrators. Smashing heads and legs with crowbars, burning houses, torture and the looting of property are made much more effective by recording and distribution. Nobody seemed to be worried about being recognised. Of course, some were high, some drunk, but even sober, they seemed to have no concerns of retribution in the courts, even at a later date. It was not as if many could be identified; many relished their notoriety in being known for their extreme violence. The name of certain individuals could bring fear to a village or township on their arrival to lead the assaults or re-education, as it was sometimes called. Every commercial farming district would have a specialised violent enforcer to set an example of what needed to be done. Was he put there by ZANU(PF)? Probably. It seemed so very organised, as were the selected murders to come. 

Nights were the time for re-education, intimidation and sleeplessness. Farmers and their families would spend sleepless days and nights listening to an angry horde screaming, singing and banging drums around their house. The majority of us had weapons, but the fear was that in using them this would bring instant retribution by state organs; nobody wanted to bring that on themselves and their families. Many farmers, their managers and workers were forced to attend all-night sessions on indoctrination and re-education. Made to bunny hop for hours on end, or join in the singing about how wonderful ZANU(PF) was.  If summoned, fleeing the farm on your return, it could be worse for you; with your house and its contents destroyed. Only when you left for good would they be happy.

It was state terror at its best. If you resist, you not only suffer a beating but also an arrest. Yes, victims were charged with violence in many instances for trying to protect their property or workers. The farm workers were loyal to their employers, and that was seen as being opposed to the state, so many more of them, being greater in number and more vulnerable than the farmers, were beaten and murdered.

Our primary form of protection was seeking our neighbours' aid, not to intervene, but to ensure they came to events as they unfolded, thus hopefully reducing the chance of severe beatings or murder. The reward for this action was often, in turn, a beating. Our area was still reasonably quiet up until this time; March 2000, but we knew it would be our turn soon as the violence spread throughout the country. Then Mugabe said this.

“We want the whites to learn that the land belongs to Zimbabweans.” - Mugabe

There it was, whites, despite being born in the country or being naturalised Zimbabweans, were no longer deemed Zimbabwean citizens. Imagine if the British Prime Minister said this of people of colour in the UK. There would be a huge outcry, likely to the point of bringing down the Government. But did they say anything about the now abundantly blatant racism in Zimbabwe? Not a squeak.

“The direst offence in Zimbabwe in the early 2000s was to be a white farmer and an active member of the MDC. If so, you were a priority target.” - Peter McSporran

I had mixed feelings about MDC. Why, you may ask? Well, I recall my good friend and neighbour, now late, Henry Bezuidenhout, and I grabbing our shotguns and pistols when we heard that the trade union had stirred up the farm workers in our district, Darwendale, across the Gwebi River in 1998. The trade unions had instigated the rioting and looting on white owned farms. Some of my friends had their houses ransacked, and they even threatened my family-to-be, the Carys. Back in 1998, riots had started early in the year in the cities and were widespread, mainly about the rising cost of food and, funnily enough, against the war in Congo, where the Zimbabwean army was fighting a proxy war. A war of greed in trying to control resources and gain political influence, much to the benefit of the Rautenbachs and Bredenkamps, who had vast mining interests there due to political favour. The trade unions were said to be behind these riots, and their leader was Morgan Tsvangirai, the current leader of the MDC in 2000. Back in 1998, they never crossed the Gwebi River to our side. Was Henry and my plan to stop them just bluster? Perhaps for me, yes, but with Henry in tow, anything could have happened.

So, yes, I had some misgivings about Morgan. I did attend some of his meetings and got to know him personally, but I never actually joined the MDC. The same could not be said for my workers, who, for some reason, became openly strong supporters of the MDC, many wearing MDC party t-shirts and distributing leaflets. I never promoted MDC, nor did I try to deter my workers from joining; I simply pointed out that the consequences for them could be dire. In defiance of the farm invasions, many farmers were seen to openly support the MDC, not only contributing funds but also being politically active. I suppose, in hindsight, a naive action by a minority community now living in a very hostile environment. Having friends throughout Zimbabwe from my days as President of the Commercial Farmers Union I knew most, many having become friends.

“It was probably desperation as much as good sense that many young, and not so young farmers became active in the MDC. Probably rightly so, they thought their only salvation would be if the MDC won the elections coming in June 2000.” - Peter McSporran

Despite the violence going on around the country, we carried on as usual. Here with the Billers, and Steyns, both managers of ours and the Vermaaks, neighbours, enjoying a Sunday on the dam at Diandraa. Crazy?

It was a bizarre time. If we weren't affected by the invasions, we would still entertain ourselves in our neighbours' houses, attend weddings, go fishing, and watch cricket matches in Harare. We'd even play tennis and get drunk at the club, just as usual. By now, professionals, both black and white, and businesspeople were leaving the country in droves, further collapsing the economy. All farmers were now living in fear for the safety of their families and the loss of their farms, homes and livelihoods, but had nowhere to go.

What was the past colonial power doing to stabilise its old colony that they were happy to see the back of and irresponsibly hand over to a bunch of political thugs back in 1980? Nothing. Blair and Short spent much of their time avoiding taking responsibility for the events they helped bring about, rather than spending any time trying to resolve the problem. They just did not care, or so it seemed, and from that time, I have despised the political ruling class in Britain, be they Labour or Conservative. In fact, recent events in the UK just consolidated this view. Why, I do not know, as I never plan to return there to live. That would be the ultimate punishment, something I have feared since losing my farms.

Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.