Roberte Mugabe supporters grab one of Zimbabwe's last white-run farms

Telegraph ^ | 01 Nov 2008 | Peta Thornycroft

[george76]

A leading Zimbabwean farmer working some of the country's last productive land has had his property invaded by allies of Robert Mugabe.

Doug Taylor-Freeme is one of Africa's most respected farmers, a white Zimbabwean chosen by his mostly black peers to be their champion.

Romsey has the only productive fields for miles around in the once-fertile Makonde South district, 90 miles north of Harare. Now it is under threat from a local strongman, Chief Nemakonde, a strong supporter of Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party, whose land grab is being supported by local government officials. He has already taken over five formerly white-owned farms in the district, all of which are derelict after his efforts at planting failed.

Mr Taylor-Freeme, 43, tried to continue his work after the demands started. But on Thursday evening, when he was planting a new crop of maize for the summer season, police arrived at the farm to enforce the wishes of Chief Nemakonde that all work be stopped. With five million people in Zimbabwe currently in need of United Nations food aid, even one of the police force admitted to The Sunday Telegraph that he felt the effort was "mad".

Before he forced his way on to Mr Taylor-Freeme's land last week, Chief Nemakonde, who is in his late 60s and has several wives and scores of children, sent men to torch a field of winter wheat stalks. meaning there will be no hay for cattle.

[Twinkie]

Oh, the thugs won’t start until Obama orders seizure of all citizens’ firearms . . gradually . . and then we shall see what we shall see IF Obama is elected.

[DemonDeac]

Boy that land stealing sure has worked well for them! Everyone is now a billionaire! Most are trillionairs!

[PowderMonkey]

"Oh, the thugs won’t start until Obama orders seizure of all citizens’ firearms . . gradually . . and then we shall see what we shall see IF Obama is elected."

I don't believe it will be gradual. If he's to get anywhere with his agenda, disarming the peasants must come first. It will be swift, violent, and shocking. That what his national civilian security corps will be for. He knows the police, national guard, and our nation's military would not enforce his orders trampling the constitution. His brown shirt legions, however, would. Does the term "crystal nacht" mean anything to anybody out there? Fearless prediction: acting in the guise of unruly mobs, their first move will be to attack and destroy gun shops, sporting goods store, small arms manufactures, ammunition production facilities, and the homes of anyone holding an FFL.

[PowderMonkey]

The correct term in German is "Kristallnacht" and here's a brief description for those unfamiliar with history:

On the nights of November 9 and 10, 1938 rampaging mobs throughout Germany and the newly acquired territories of Austria and Sudetenland freely attacked Jews in the street, in their homes and at their places of work and worship. At least 96 Jews were killed and hundreds more injured, more than 1,000 synagogues were burned (and possibly as many as 2,000), almost 7,500 Jewish businesses were destroyed, cemeteries and schools were vandalized, and 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

The official German position on these events, which were clearly orchestrated by Goebbels, was that they were spontaneous outbursts. The Fuehrer, Goebbels reported to Party officials in Munich, "has decided that such demonstrations are not to be prepared or organized by the party, but so far as they originate spontaneously, they are not to be discouraged either."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I read this.

The local police wouldn’t take his land, they want him to grown food, so Mugabe had to send tugs from Harare to do it.

[george76]

Romsey has the only productive fields for miles around in the once-fertile Makonde South district...

Chief Nemakonde... sent men to torch a field of winter wheat stalks. meaning there will be no hay for cattle.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It’s awful.

I know people who have fled and are in the U.S. legally. I met one of their relatives who is here on a visit and who will be returning soon.

Her husband died and after the sale of her home, she had money in the bank to live out her life. Now with inflation, her savings won’t buy a loaf of bread.

But she smiles, talks of her children there - bright, educated but trapped.

I asked how she could smile and she asked what else could she do?

[george76]

The kids should get out before they are killed.

Forget the cheese, get out of the trap.

[blam]

"Let them starve."

Nah, that would be racist...and anyway, George Bush has already sent $48 billion of your tax dollars to Africa.

[blam]

"Remember the Rodney King LA riots and how some people took to their roofs with guns? Shut things down quickly."

Those were the Koreans...Imagine that, of the 62 killed during the riots, none were Korean.

[dennisw]

Given a chance Obama will do the same to America. By making coal burning for electricity too expensive and other dumb and evil acts

Even with mass starvation in Zimbabwe Mugabe destroys farmers who are proven successes. Obama will destroy Americans and businesses that are proven successes and transfer their wealth to the lazy bums and idiots

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george76.

[dfwgator]

“Land snatching...land snatching....Land: see Snatch. Ah, Hailie vs. United States. Hailie: 7, United States nothing. It can be done!” - Hedley Lamarr

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That’s their goal.

[happygrl]

Boy that land stealing sure has worked well for them! Everyone is now a billionaire! Most are trillionairs!

Oh the irony!!!

Great comment!