Unfair to farmers
From Mr Stanislas M. Yassukovich, CBE Sir: On the matter of commercial farmers in Zimbabwe (Time to deal with Mugabe', AIgy Cluff, 30 March): they are Zimbabwean citizens who happen to be white, and are of largely English, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Many are third-generation. There are also a number of Belgian, German, Dutch, Italian, Greek and Polish origin. There are several African commercial farmers.
Mr Cluff is also wrong in suggesting that the commercial farmers took no steps to implement land reform. The Commercial Farmers' Union has tabled several plans to release commercial farming land to settle peasant farmers in a manner that both protects the industry and ensures success for smallholders, maintaining food production. Shortly after independence, the CFU worked to promote the so-called Yeoman Farmers' scheme, which sought to train Africans to grow cash crops.
Commercial farmers have not asked to be 'bailed out' by HM's government; they are asking to be allowed to stay, grow food and employ people. In a country with mass unemployment and facing famine, this does not seem like an unreasonable or exploitative request.
Stanislas M. Yassukovich
Bonnieux, France
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