Evicted White farmers appeal to government

HARARE, Zimbabwe (www.AllAfrica.com) - The last remaining White commercial farmers have appealed to the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal in an effort to stop government from expropriating their properties.

Government, using Constitutional Amendment No. 17, which effectively nationalized all land, and the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act served all remaining White farmers with eviction notices. The majority of the notices, which have since expired, gave farmers a 90-day grace period to wrap up businesses and vacate the property from the day of receiving the notice. Failure to comply attracts a two-year jail term or fine or both if found guilty. The latest wave of evictions is set to derail Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono's recovery plan since most of the affected farmers had benefited from the Agriculture Sector Production Enhancement Facility (ASPEF).