A prominent Free State farmer has accused President Thabo Mbeki and the government of failing to protect his substantial business interests and those of other South Africans in Zimbabwe.
At a press conference after meeting Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon in Cape Town, Crawford von Abo told reporters that he had sent Mbeki a letter in March asking for help.
He and other South Africans are among commercial farmers or landowners in Zimbabwe who have been targeted by the Zimbabwean government.
”…I feel free to appeal to you to assist me to a just settlement as a loyal South African citizen,” the letter states.
Von Abo said he was advised that the matter had been referred to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for action.
”To date I have heard nothing further from either the president, the minister of foreign affairs, or any official for the department of foreign affairs that my request is still being considered or that it has been rejected on principles of policy.”
Von Abo was arrested in Zimbabwe on Monday while visiting one of his farms in the south of the country. He along with other white commercial farmers appeared in court the following day and were released on bail. They have to appear again in court on September 18.
However, on Friday night the Foreign Affairs Department said it had approached Zimbabwean authorities following his arrest.
The department also confirmed in a statement that the presidency had received a letter from Von Abo and it had been passed onto the South African High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Jerry Ndou.
”The matter was raised with the Zimbabwean authorities, including the Principal of Lands,” the department said.
It added that South African authorities had contacted Van Abo’s family following his arrest.
The farmer also told journalists on Friday that neighbours from European countries like France and Germany had not been subjected to the illegal expropriation of their land by Zimbabwean authorities.
”I personally spoke to my neighbour … who is a Frenchman. When he was threatened his government stepped in and said ”you don’t touch him’.” Referring to other European farmers in Zimbabwe, he said: ”They have not been touched. Their governments came in.
”It’s not a question of land. It’s a question of politics … The sad part of it is that the people who are victimised are not the ones who left in 1980 (Zimbabwe’s independence). They are productive citizens paying their taxes and duties and who are being victimised because of the political situation.”
Von Abo — who in his letter to Mbeki said he had given premises to the ANC in Bothaville and had been bombed and branded a sellout — described himself as a loyal South African and a supporter of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
”I expected that as a South Africa investor in Zimbabwe, I would at least have been protected by my government against the draconian actions of an African regime which is totally in conflict with the principles of Nepad and the new African Union.”
Von Abo said he had never been a politician and had always been involved in agriculture.
”I can tell you. On the ground there is a restlessness in South Africa (because) the situation in Zimbabwe has not been addressed… This is a problem. I feel that if I can contribute, then let me say we are all in this land together. There is no place for racism. There is no place for people who do not want to work together… I’m not interested in living in another country. I enjoyed my time here.”
Leon said it was clear that governments who had been prepared to act on behalf of and defend their citizens in Zimbabwe had succeeded.
”This must give the lie to quiet diplomacy. Maybe its time for courageous talk from our president and government’s part. It’s very late in the day. Perhaps too late for the Crawford von Abo’s of this world, but we have to try and save this region.”
In a statement, NNP leader in Parliament Dr Boy Geldenhuys said his party was disappointed that the South African High Commission in Harare had apparently failed to do anything for Van Abo and other South Africans in a similar predicament. This followed his talks with Von Abo on Friday.
Geldenhuys offered to be the link to Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, whom the NNP had met earlier in the week to raise its concerns about the Free State farmer.
Geldenhuys repeated that the long-term solution would be for South Africa and Zimbabwe to conclude an agreement protecting South African investments in that country. ? Sapa