When the pioneers arrived in what became Rhodesia then later, Zimbabwe, the tribes were settled along the main river catchment areas, practising slash and burn agriculture with no knowledge of irrigation or even well digging to occupy the harsher interior of the land, they numbered about 450 000 with a high mortality rate due to disease, drought, wild animal attacks and inter tribal war, only about 1000 of the origional native San or bushman people survived the genocide implemented by the Bantu tribal people.
The pioneers had an unlimited choice of land outside of the settled areas, which they developed using the technology of the time, draining swamps and damming rivers to irrigate etc.
As the population increased due to rule of law, free medical care and education, areas were set aside for commercial farms for the tribal people wanting to own land rather than live on the communal reserves, free training, equipment and pedigree bulls were provided, and interest free loans for developing these farms, the uptake was slow as once educated, the children of the tribal groups went for training as nurses, teachers etc, and shunned land based work.
The pioneer descendants built up their farming/ranching enterprises making Rhodesia the 'breadbasket of Africa' and developed the second largest economy in Africa, mostly agriculturally based, farmers/ranchers built schools and clinics for their staff and other local people, and mentored those who did choose to persue an agricultural career.
1980. after a bitter civil war, the western governments sold out the Rhodesians and Mugabe came to power after a rigged election, part of the deal was that suitable commercial farms would be bought (financed by the UK and USA), to develop into communal farms for peasant farmers.
When a farm or ranch was available for sale, government inspectors would decide if the farm was wanted and it would be purchased at market price, or a 'certificate of no interest' would be issued, and the property sold to a private buyer.
An increasing number of high dollar properties were ending up in private
ownership by politicians and high ranking army and police officers, at USA and UK taxpayers expense, the payments were put on hold. At this time Mugabe lost an election to the opposition MDC party, and referendum allowing the forced taking of private property.
He refused to stand down, and began to organise mobs, including ex terrorists, to start 'spontanious' occupations of commercial farms (including those owned by black commercial farmers loyal to the MDC)
The best were then taken by influential members of Mugabe's party, some were occupied by peasant farmers and "war veterans"(ex terrorists)
The vast majority wre asset stripped and deserted, the six farmers murdered during the early days of the farm invasions were senior members of the MDC - coincidence?
Thugs were brought in from different areas (Shona people to Matabeleland) to give the impression of local uprising for the international press. The "invasions" were completely political, but given a racial slant by Mugabe for the benefit of other African dictators and far left sympathisers, the destruction of thousands of black owned homes and the persecution of black farm workers, mainly MDC supporters, was hardly mentioned in the press, the race card has much more appeal. The sacrifice of the Zimbabwean economy on the alter of Mugabes' ego has plunged the most progressive country in Africa with the most equitable spread of wealth, into being another banana republic with widespread suffering amongst the people supposed to have benefitted by the farm invasions.
My wife and I financed every bit of our farm development, erected every fence, built our house brick by brick, and worked to support our family while building up the ranch, all our own money and labour, we couldn't afford any paid help, we were exporting pedigree cattle, and making a living for the first time when we had to leave with only our suitcases, the ranch has now returned to wilderness.
