• Latest
  • Trending
Ululations, tears as white Zimbabwean farmer returns to seized land

Ululations, tears as white Zimbabwean farmer returns to seized land

December 22, 2017
Pfizer vaccine only slightly less effective against key South African mutations – Study

Undocumented migrants and vaccination in South Africa question

February 26, 2021
Red Cross postpones aid convoys after Aleppo attack

Syrian migrant sets sights on seat in German parliament

February 26, 2021
R15.5BN PAID BACK TO SOUTH AFRICANS IN TAX RETURNS

R3 billion investment into SARS is warning to taxpayers in South Africa

February 26, 2021

Libyan Prime Minister-designate proposes unity government plan

February 26, 2021
Zimbabwe has begun the process of acquiring COVID-19 vaccines: Vice President

Israel freezes programme to send vaccines abroad, defence minister says

February 26, 2021
Mkhize determined to get to bottom of VBS ‘corruption’

AstraZeneca deal was sealed before new variant in SA: Mkhize

February 10, 2021
Zuma no-confidence motion set for Thursday – South Africa parliament

COVID-19 direct response should form the basis of Ramaphosa’s SONA: ANC

February 10, 2021
J&J applies for COVID-19 vaccine emergency authorisation from SA

J&J applies for COVID-19 vaccine emergency authorisation from SA

February 10, 2021
All systems go for 6th Parliament SONA

Job opportunities will come, Ramaphosa tells labour federations

February 2, 2021
AstraZeneca vaccine to undergo quality assurance checks before rollout: Mkhize

AstraZeneca vaccine to undergo quality assurance checks before rollout: Mkhize

February 1, 2021
Portfolio Committee on Health notes poor record keeping at Tembisa Hospital

Portfolio Committee on Health notes poor record keeping at Tembisa Hospital

February 1, 2021
Algeria says it has discussed with Russia about producing Moscow’s Sputnik V vaccine

Algeria says it has discussed with Russia about producing Moscow’s Sputnik V vaccine

February 1, 2021
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
Sunday, March 7, 2021
  • Login
TP
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
No Result
View All Result
TownPress
No Result
View All Result
Home Africa

Ululations, tears as white Zimbabwean farmer returns to seized land

December 22, 2017
in Africa
0
Ululations, tears as white Zimbabwean farmer returns to seized land

Commercial farmer Darreyn Smart is welcomed at Lesbury Estates by village elders and children at a farm in Headlands communal lands east of the capital Harare, Zimbabwe, December 21, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

164
SHARES
798
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RUSAPE, Zimbabwe – The last time white Zimbabwean farmer Rob Smart left his land it was at gunpoint, forced out in June by riot police armed with tear gas and AK-47 assault rifles.

He returned on Thursday to ululations and tears of joy from former workers and their families who were also kicked out – a jubilant return and the first sign that the president who has replaced Robert Mugabe is making good on a vow to stop illegal land seizures and restore property rights.

Scores of jubilant black Zimbabweans nearly knocked the 71-year-old off his feet as he and his two children stepped out of their car and onto their land for the first time in six months.

Smart’s case was taken up by Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s then vice-president who heard of Smart’s violent eviction while at an investment conference in Johannesburg.

Mnangagwa became president last month following a de facto coup that ended 93-year-old Mugabe’s rule. In the latter half of his 37 years in power, Zimbabwe’s economy collapsed, especially after the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms under the banner of post-colonial land reform.

Land ownership is one of Zimbabwe’s most sensitive political topics. Colonialists seized some of the best agricultural land and much of it remained in the hands of white farmers after independence in 1980 leaving many blacks effectively landless.

Twenty years later, Mugabe authorized the violent invasion of many white-owned farms and justified it on the grounds that it was redressing imbalances from the colonial era.

White farmers complained that well-connected people used state security forces to force them off their farms, sometimes in the middle of harvesting, even after the Mugabe government indicated, some four years ago, that land seizures were over.

“We are overjoyed, over the moon. We thought we would never see this day coming,” Smart’s son, Darryn, told Reuters.

“Getting back to the farm has given not just us, but the whole community hope that it’s a new Zimbabwe, a new country.”

Rob Smart, whose father said he started the farm from “virgin bush” in 1932, expressed confidence in the new government’s pledge to protect the commercial farming sector, a mainstay of the struggling economy.

“It’s early days but so far what they (the new government) said they are going to do they are doing,” he told Reuters.

“We just hope this whole incident will give hope to other farmers, who’ve had the same situation.”

“NO CONFUSION”

Mnangagwa, who is under pressure to revive the economy ahead of elections next year, said on Thursday that he was resolute about the changes he was introducing.

“There is no business as usual. Things have changed, it’s a new era,” he said at a meeting with business leaders in South Africa.

“I‘m from the military. If it’s ‘left turn’ then it’s ‘left turn’. If it’s ‘right turn’ it’s ‘right turn’. No confusion.”

Mnangagwa’s new agriculture minister, Perrance Shiri, last week ordered illegal occupiers of farms to vacate the land immediately, a move that could ultimately see some white farmers who say they were unfairly evicted return to farming.

Shiri, a military hardliner who was head of the air force before being picked for the crucial ministry this month, called for “unquestionable sanity on the farms”.

For 83-year-old Anna Matemani, whose late husband worked on the farm, Smart’s return was long overdue.

“I‘m so happy he is finally back. He always helped us and the farm provides jobs for many of our young people,” said the grandmother of 15, who grew up and raised her children on the farm and witnessed Rob’s birth, wiping away tears.

Some of the Smarts’ joy subsided as they walked into their ransacked farmhouses.

The occupiers had looted property, including clothes, the children’s toys, three guns, bottles of 100-year-old wine and Smart’s late father Roy’s medals from when he served with the Police Reserve Air Wing in the former Rhodesia.

“I‘m sad about my grandfather’s medals,” Darryn Smart said, surveying a ransacked room.

“You can buy tables and chairs, you can’t buy that family history. But thank goodness we’re here.”

Comments

Tags: Rob Smartzimbabwe
Share68Tweet40Share11Share16Send
Previous Post

DA says Ramaphosa must stop Zuma’s abuse of court processes

Next Post

Canada cancels loan to South Africa’s Gupta family for Bombardier jet purchase

Next Post
Canada cancels loan to South Africa’s Gupta family for Bombardier jet purchase

Canada cancels loan to South Africa's Gupta family for Bombardier jet purchase

Please login to join discussion
No Result
View All Result
Currently Playing

SAElections2019 Indelible Ink & Election Fraud

SAElections2019 Indelible Ink & Election Fraud

00:01:40

Why would Mampintsha assault Babes Wodumo?

00:00:40

Alph Lukau “raising the dead” is a fraud

00:01:36

Moozlie Mabena involved in a live video crash

00:00:58

Welkom Hijack Man shot in parking lot

00:01:04

Female theft suspects tries to evade guards at Clear Water Mall

00:01:48

Franchise Driver on duty with sex worker

00:00:47

Courageous female driver attack hjackers on driveway

00:01:33

University of Zululand Student stabbed to death by roommate

00:00:41

Vehicle High Jacking on Cedar road, Midrand

00:01:57

Watch thief steal a Hilux in Bloemfontein

00:01:05

Watch Mosque Shoe snatchers in action

00:00:43

Watch these Unbelievable Shoplifters Caught with the Loot

00:03:13

Journalist attacked by EFF Floyd Shivambu and security details

00:00:43

Attempted cash in transit heist by DSTV office in Randburg

00:00:48

KFM Presenters and the Three Rs Blunder

00:00:59

SAPS Higspeed chase

00:01:08

Ruthless home invaders in westrand

00:01:30

Dj Khomza bashes girlfriend with a spanner

00:01:56

Daybreak Robbery in Auckland Park

00:01:15

Fake Police arrested in Johannesburg

00:01:00

#MduduziManana assault video at Cubana

00:00:29

Racial assault of couple at KFC montana

00:01:22

Smart Porsche driver escapes hijackers in Johannesburg

00:00:49

VW Polo Hijack at Kempton Park filling station

00:02:13

Women caught husband cheating and jumps on Carhood

00:02:02

Carlton Centre, Joburg Heist

00:01:06

Did Malema call Mandela a Sellout ?

00:02:01

Petrol Attendant beat up a man

00:01:01

Car Hijack gone wrong

00:02:15

Armed robbery in Alberton

00:00:52

Mother and son in Polokwane attacked by panga wielding robbers

00:02:04

Hyundai i10 Hijacking in Chatsworth

00:00:59

Check more Videos on Youtube

Connect

Connect
TownPress

Copyright © 2021 Townpress.

Navigate Site

  • Terms and conditions
  • About Us
  • Subscription
  • Contact
  • Account

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement

Copyright © 2021 Townpress.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Go to mobile version
This site uses cookies to improve user experience: Find out more.