Action Alert Update : 2 farmers in custody and others remanded out of custody
February 5th, 2009
This is an update on yesterday’s action alert. Please keep trying to contact your regional SADC offices as we asked.
It has been confirmed that at least two of the farmers (Chris Jarrett and Gary Godfrey) have been formally arrested today, but charges against them remain unclear. We have been told that the directive to arrest the farmers came from the Permanent Secretary of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary affairs.
The two farmers are being held at Donnington Police Station in Bulawayo. Both have been told that they violated eviction orders to leave their farms. Ironically neither of these farmers have set foot on the contentious farms (once flourishing models of agricultural excellence) in six years!
The farmers from the Mashonaland region have been remanded out of custody until a later date, but have not been incarcerated.
It is suspected that Jarrett and Godfrey are spending the night courtesy of the State because their farms fall within Obert Mpofu’s constituency. Mpofu has a long history of violence and intimidation.
TAKE ACTION
Please call Donnington Police Station and Obert Mpofu and point out to them that these actions are unlawful, that they violate the recent SADC Tribunal ruling and that they also violate the Global Political Agreement signed on the 15th September. If the policeman you are talking too seems approachable, ask them to take a message to the farmers and let them know the world is watching. Please also keep trying to get in touch with SADC, as we asked in our previous alert.
As always, please be very polite and calm when making your calls.
The telephone numbers at Donnington police station are +263-9-474005 and +263-9-467309. We’ve tried both numbers and they seem to be working, but so far no answer.
We have contact details for Obert Mpofu too – this is his home telephone number +263-9-246060 and his mobile number is +263-11-865601
His work contact details are as below:
Mpofu, Obert
Minister of Industry and International Trade
miit@indandcom.co.zw
micbyo@mweb.co.zw
Telephone : +263-4-702731 / 730633 / 791823-7
Fax Number : + 263-4-729311 / 723765 / 722767 / 702738 / 707351
Other name: Ministry of Industry and International Trade
Physical Address: Ministry of Industry and International Trade 13th Floor Mukwati Building Cnr. 4th Street/Livingstone Avenue Private Bag 7708 Causeway Harare
Additional information: Bulawayo contact numbers 263-9-67411/61397/229419 Fax: 263-9-61397/67968
February 5th, 2009 21:47
Phones unaswered.
Emails sent.
How long before the people realise that this sort of activity is counter productive?
February 6th, 2009 18:35
Why does the white farmers still stay,in South Africa they are leaving slowly to their fore fathers destinations as they clearly are not wanted or needed in Africa. So sad that this is happening. Experience with farming takes many years and the farmers are just always so willing to teach their skills to keen new farmers. Makes one wonder where our food will come from in the future, there is allready a food crisis in the world and we need new young fsrmers to learn to provide for the next generation. Very short sighted to say the least !!!