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Harare Bureau
The Commercial Farmers Union, a whites only organisation that collapsed following land reform, is now spearheading a federation that incorporates all farmers’ unions as it seeks to become relevant on the farming landscape.The union has already approached the Zimbabwe Farmers Union with the proposal with which an agreement has been made to form the federation expected to eventually involve other farmers’ unions.
The product of their union, that will be named as the Federation of Agricultural Unions, is expected to look into issues that affect agriculture and come up with ways of improving the sector.
CFU vice-president Mr Peter Steyl said in an interview that other unions such as the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union were willing to form the federation.
“We have made proposals to the ZFU and they seem to welcome the move,” said Mr Steyl.
“At the moment, we are working with all the farmers’ unions and we formed the joint presidency council whereby unions take turns to chair.”
Mr Steyl said CFU would hold its annual congress soon where members would be consulted on the move to form the federation with ZFU.
“We would want to have a singular voice for agriculture,” he said.
“We want to speak with one voice and be united as farmers and not as blacks and whites.”
Mr Steyl said most of the CFU members had realised that the land reform was irreversible and had accepted their fate.
“When the land reform was carried out, most of us were in the mid 50s and now we have grown old and can not go back to farm,” he said.
“But we are willing to help and become part of the system by offering advice. We are doing this for the betterment of the country and the future of our children.”
The CFU is an exclusive club of white farmers which has been part of the MDC-T’s illegal regime change agenda and a fierce critic of land reform over the past 14 years.
The union’s change of heart comes after it recently begged Government to be considered for land, a development analysts said meant that the group realised the MDC-T had dismally failed to form a Government after losing the harmonised elections on 31 July.
ZFU second vice-president Mr Berean Mukwende said his organisation was prepared to form the federation although no agreement had been made yet.
“CFU has made a proposal and we are willing to form the federation with all farmers unions,” he said.
“It is more powerful if farmers speak with one voice.”
Mr Mukwende said the federation would allow individual unions to be autonomous.
“Merging will bring challenges since we have other differences such as our approach to the land reform programme but as a federation, we will work well together,” he said.
Mr Mukwende said if CFU had a hidden agenda, it would not succeed. ZCFU president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said it was long overdue that all farmers unions united and spoke with one voice.
“Joining forces has always been good for the agricultural industry,” he said.
“We are working together and we are doing well. There is no room for manipulation.
“We are working for the good of the country and there is no way the land will be returned back to the white farmers. CFU has a small following and we have the large base. The land reform is permanent and now we are moving forward.”
Online Reporter