Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union Courts Black Famers

Zimbabwe farmer workers in Nyamzura in Odzi. The earnings on production increased in 2012., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Whites only CFU courts black farmers

October 7, 2013
Mr Berean Mukwende
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

DISILLUSIONED by MDC-T’s devastating electoral loss, the whites only Commercial Farmers Union that was among chief sponsors of the opposition and championed the party’s anti-land reform drive, is reinventing itself by calling for a federation incorporating all farmers’ unions.

This development, which comes at a time when the vanquished MDC-T is also trying to keep its head above the water by calling for the equivalent of a second GPA, is the clearest sign that the regime change agenda has aborted with its protagonists reverting to the wisdom of the adage, “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

Last week, the National Constitutional Assembly — which all along professed to be in an alliance with MDC-T — broke ranks and declared itself a political party.

The CFU, which is on record saying it cannot continue swimming against the tide, has since approached the Zimbabwe Farmers Union with the proposal that is expected to culminate in an agreement to form a federation of all farmers’ unions.

The Federation of Agricultural Unions is expected to look into issues that affect agriculture and come up with ways of improving the sector.

CFU vice president Mr Peter Steyl said in an interview that other unions were willing to join.

“We have made proposals to the ZFU and they seem to welcome the move. At the moment we are working with all the farmers’ unions and we formed the joint presidency council which the unions take turns to chair.”

Mr Steyl said CFU would hold its annual congress soon where members would be consulted on the move.

“We would want to have a singular voice for agriculture. We want to speak with one voice and be united as farmers and not as blacks and whites.”

Mr Steyl said most CFU members had realised that land reform was irreversible and had accepted their fate.

“When land reform was carried out, most of us were in the mid 50s and now we have grown old and cannot go back to farm,” he said.

“But we are willing to help and become part of the system by offering advice.

“We are doing this for the betterment of the country and the future of our children,’’ he said.

The CFU is an exclusive club of white farmers which has been part of MDC-T’s illegal regime change agenda and a fierce critic of land reform over the past 14 years.

The union’s change of heart was followed by a request to be considered for land allocation. Government is on record saying all Zimbabweans are free to apply for resettlement.

ZFU second vice president Mr Berean Mukwende said his organisation was prepared to form the federation, although no agreement had been made.

“CFU has made a proposal and we are willing to form the federation with all farmers unions,” he said.

“It is more powerful if farmers speak with one voice.”

Mr Mukwende said the federation would not kill the autonomy of the unions.

“Merging will bring challenges since we have other differences such as our approach to the land reform programme, but as a federation we will work well together,” he said.

Mr Mukwende said if CFU had a hidden agenda, it would not succeed. ZCFU president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said it was long overdue that all farmers unions united and spoke with one voice.

“Joining forces has always been good for the agricultural industry,” he said. “We are working together and we are doing well. There is no room for manipulation.

“We are working for the good of the country and there is no way the land will be returned back to the white farmers. CFU has a small following and we have the large base. The land reform is permanent and now we are moving forward.”