In October 2001, while Philip Chiyangwa, former ZANU PF MP for Chinhoyi, and Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo were addressing a meeting of farmers in Banket, Chiyangwa said: “… Anyone who supports the MDC will be eliminated.”
Ben Freeth is a dispossessed white Zimbabwean farmer who is now with the SADC Tribunal Rights Watch Zimbabwe.
“The campaign of intimidation spread to factories, businesses and offices; even embassies and aid agencies whom Mugabe accused of supporting the opposition were caught up in the mayhem,” Meredith said.
Mugabe used the resulting white exodus to his advantage at a rally in March 2002, stating: “All of you gathered here can see that whites want us to be their slaves and they are now closing shops and factories to throw you blacks into the streets so that you can turn against the government.”
He blamed his government’s failures on white farmers and the white population in general. Since the violent farm invasions of 2000, which targeted white farmers their families and their farm workers, the State propaganda machine – combined with ZANU PF indoctrination campaigns have impacted significantly on the white population.
The fallout for the entire country has been devastating. From Independence in 1980, approximately 90 percent of the white population has left Zimbabwe ? many in a completely destitute state.
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