Member News
By Michael Courtney - 20th November 2009
A new documentary film made an emotional impact on the all-party parliamentary group for Zimbabwe when it was screened for them on Wednesday.
Mugabe and the White African shows two men's struggle for justice for the victims of Robert Mugabe's Land Reform Programme (LRP).
The group warmly welcomed the film's two directors, Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson, executive producer Steve Milne and principal subject Ben Freeth, who was accompanied by his father Zach.
"The strategy behind its release is two fold," Thompson told the group.
"To lobby and influence the foreign policies of various governments on Zimbabwe" alongside a hope that "as a breakthrough documentary" it could head to the Oscars.
The film tells the story of Mike Campbell, father-in-law to Ben, who lost the right to own his farm when the Mugabe regime listed it for 'acquisition and re-distribution' in 1997.
While approximately two-thirds of farmland acquired by Mugabe has been given to "poor black farmers," the remainder was awarded to Mugabe's relatives and comrades.
Campbell pioneered a legal battle to "directly challenge Mugabe" on the grounds of discrimination against white farmers and his violation of Southern African Development Council (SADC) law, to which Zimbabwe is a party.
The case could only be heard in an international court due to allegations of human rights abuses and corruption within Zimbabwe's domestic legal system.
Throughout the case, the tenacious refusal of Campbell and Freeth to abandon their home became the source of constant intimidation, threats, beatings, abduction and torture for them, their families and workers.
After a lengthy legal battle, Campbell won his case on all counts in November 2008. This proved the LRP was illegal and should have given other farmers the right to return to their land.
Despite the victory, Mugabe rejected the tribunal's decision in February 2009, saying the SADC had "no legal standing" and declared that the LRP would continue.
The final clips of the film show that Mount Carmel farm, home to Campbell and Freeth's families and workers since 1980, was burnt to the ground during the summer.
Freeth is now taking the film around the world to influence government policy and to galvanise public opinion.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd