Sir, - As I am married to the daughter of a white Zimbabwean farmer, I view the crisis in Zimbabwe from a particular standpoint. This, does, however, also give me at least as much experience and knowledge of the country as some of your columnists - Not least Mary Holland who, last week, made her comments about the white farmers there on the basis of a lunch party 20 years ago! I have been a regular visitor since 1979 (i.e. pre-independence) up to last year.
The white farming community in Zimbabwe is the legacy of the white settlers who came to much of southern Africa. At the time of independence 20 years ago they faced much uncertainty about their future and many of them left. Those who stayed, many with deep roots, did so in the full knowledge that they were now Zimbabweans and committed themselves to the new country.
They are extremely fine farmers by any standards and have developed a thriving agricultural sector that would stand comparison with anywhere in the world. They are major producers of tobacco - a highly intensive crop - and cattle, but also coffee, sugar, soya, cotton, maize, fruit, game and, lately, speciality vegetables and cut flowers flown fresh directly to Europe. These people are no post colonial relicts. They are a thriving, hardworking community, far more innovative and risk-taking than many of our farmers in Europe.
How have these people fitted into the emerging economy of Zimbabwe? Until the recent "farm invasions", the answer is very well. They have been a major source of income for the country, contributing a substantial element of government revenue and foreign exchange. They are huge employers, which reflects not an inertia of bygone times but the relative cost of labour versus the cost and availability of machinery. They provide housing, schools and other facilities such as water and electricity for the families of their employees.
The incomes of these labourers, as suggested by some of your commentators, is low; but this is not just a problem of white-owned farms, it is a problem of Africa. However, it must be pointed out that in Zimbabwe farm wages are controlled by government departments. It is untrue to present the situation, therefore, as purely exploitative.
Now, in tandem with the mainly white commercial sector of Zimbabwean agriculture, there must be development of more commercial African farmers and this is fully recognised by everyone in Zimbabwe. They need land and capital and the expertise to develop them. This has manifestly not happened since independence. Much of the land taken over by government has been retained by government officials and is under-farmed and degenerating.
It should be possible to have a planned development of agriculture in Zimbabwe, retaining the vibrant sector of white farms in the medium term to sustain the economy while the emerging African agriculture develops from subsistence farming to creating a surplus for sale and export. However, the present farm invasions, insecurity and widespread intimidation will lead only to disaster and despair. The baby will mostly, surely, be thrown out with the bath water. - Yours, etc., Richard Greene,
Castledermot, Co Kildare.
