Zim farmer, 79, faces eviction
2009-11-05 09:00
Special Report
Most of Zimbabwe’s 230 000 civil servants have heeded a strike call, their union says, vowing to intensify the protest if the government fails to meet their demand for a five-fold pay hike.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
André le Roux
Johannesburg - A 79-year-old farmer is to appear in a Zimbabwean court on Thursday, after disobeying a court order two weeks ago that she vacate her farm.
"I am very sad, but I know the Lord is going to court with me," Hester Theron said on Wednesday.
If Theron does not leave her farm near Beatrice, south of Harare, she will face six months in prison.
Theron - the mother of Deon Theron, chairperson of the Zimbabwean farmer's association - was found guilty of illegally occupying the prize farm Friedenthal Farm since 2007.
She has been living on the farm of more than 2 000 hectares since 1957.
'I will leave them nothing'
"Yes, I'm strong. I'm ready for them, because I know the Lord is with me," a determined Theron said.
But she expected that the court would finally order her to leave the farm. "I will have to go and stay in Harare, but I will take everything. I will leave them nothing!"
Apart from a large diary, houses, buildings and other huge improvements were added over the years, including a permanent irrigation system.
Theron's son said he had told his lawyer to have him called as a witness.
"This is nonsense. I will insist that they compensate my mother for the farm and that she must be allowed to live on the farm until they do this."
He expected, however, that the court would reject this demand.
Compensation
"In cases like these, farmers are forced to leave the farm and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for five years."
"My mother is almost 80 years old, they can't do it to her. They have to compensate her."
He admitted it would be difficult to put a financial value on a farm which had been farmed for 52 years.
"I know we won't get a single cent for this, but it is about the principle," he said.
- Beeld