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The South African
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Zimbabwean white farmers' payout sparks legal fight with war vets
Zimbabwe's promise to compensate white farmers evicted under Robert Mugabe's land reform is facing resistance from some war veterans once hailed as heroes of that revolution. More than twenty years ago, Zimbabwe's government under Robert Mugabe initiated a sweeping and often violent land reform campaign. The campaign evicted about 4 500 white farmers and reallocated their land to an estimated 300 000 black families. Officials defended the program as a necessary step to address colonial-era land inequalities. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to pay just over US$3.5 billion (R63 billion) to more than 4 000 white farmers. The aim is to rebuild relations with Western countries that condemned the land seizures. The compensation only covers improvements made to the farms, not the land itself. Since the plan was launched in 2020, little has happened. The government has only paid US$3 million (R56 million), covering 378 farms. According to Zimlive , five former liberation war veterans have gone to court to block the government's compensation deal. These war veterans include Joseph 'Ginger' Chinguwa, Godfrey 'Zvabhendazvabhenda' Gurira, Joseph 'Hitler Bazooka' Chinyangare, Reuben Zulu, and Digmore Ndiya. The war veterans believe that the deal with white farmers is unconstitutional without new legislation from Parliament. The human rights lawyer and former finance minister Tendai Biti is representing the war veterans. They've taken their case to the High Court, seeking to have the entire deal declared unconstitutional. In an affidavit submitted to the court, war veteran Chinguwa noted that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has publicly acknowledged a Global Compensation Agreement involving US$3.5 billion (R63 billion) in payments. Chinguwa said the big issue for war veterans was the lack of detail. The government, he argued, hadn't explained how it calculated the US$3.5 billion (R63 billion). He asked whether the valuation included dams, buildings, or anything else permanently attached to the land. The war veterans continue arguing: '…in our respectful view, anything permanently affixed to the land is part of the land… This would include, for instance, dams, buildings, fruit, coffee or tea plantations.' Chinguwa maintained that the government ought to have tabled a clear Act in Parliament. It should have outlined the compensation formula, the scope of land and improvements involved, and the list of intended recipients. 'None of this was done. To this day, the Global Compensation Agreement is a closely kept secret. In a country governed by the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is clearly unconstitutional…' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
22-04-2025
- Health
- The South African
Zimbabwean teen's fight for life lands in SA court
Zimbabwean parents of a 15-year-old girl with a life-threatening autoimmune disease recently had their hopes turned to heartbreak at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Despite the condition being so urgent and the availability of a liver donor, doctors told the family their daughter doesn't qualify for a transplant. Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital reportedly refused to help Vanessa Mafu, the daughter of Zimbabwean parents. The teenager suffers from a life-threatening autoimmune disease that requires a liver transplant. According to the family, their daughter was denied the procedure simply because she is not South African. The doctors at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital told Vanessa's father, Vuyelwa Ncube, that he must have a valid visa or permit. That would qualify her daughter to receive life-saving medical treatment. Vanessa's parents have filed an urgent application at the Johannesburg High Court. The application seeks to compel Charlotte Maxeke Hospital to perform the life-saving transplant. The parents claim they can meet the transplant cost, which could cost up to R1,5 million. In the affidavit, Ncube clarifies that he applied for an extension of his expired work permit and is awaiting the outcome. 'The delays in the processing of my documents are not my own, but could have fatal consequences for my daughter,' reads the affidavit. Zimlive reports that the family's lawyer, Advocate Simba Chitando, described Vanessa's situation as extremely urgent, but also 'blatantly xenophobic.' 'It is symbolic of the fact that South Africa has lost its moral, legal, and pan-African compass. My clients remain defiant under the circumstances, and the legal team I'm leading will do everything in our power to save this beautiful Zimbabwean girl's life.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
