PARADISE LOST
by Cal Pappas
Three of the best summers of my life were spent on a remote ranch in southeastern Zimbabwe. 1997-98-99
are remembered as safe, free, clean, exciting with more emotions than words can readily describe. I was a guest of the Whitehead
family of Chiredzi for three hunting vacations. The Whitehead's management of the land and wildlife on their Marakanga impressed
me so much I penned an article for The African Hunter magazine for volume 7, number 3.
For my article, I chose the title, Paradise Found. It was a take off on John Milton's Paradise
Lost, written in the 1600s. To paraphrase, the two-page story chronicles the Whiteheads 10+ year transformation of a dry and
desolate land into land teeming with abundant animal life and rich, lush vegetation. I closed the article with my vow to return
there for at least five years until my retirement from secondary school teaching.
Sadly, the world of Zimbabwe has been turned upside down with the policies of the current government.
I learned of the changes a few months before my June of 2000 flight to Chiredzi for what was to be my forth consecutive visit.
Word was spreading fast of the Mugabe government's plan to allow veterans of the 1980 War for Independence to confiscate land
owned by white farmers. This land was the breadbasket of Zimbabwe. The country's food supply was grown here. Tens of millions
of foreign dollars came to the country from tourists and hunters. I was one. My yearly savings was spent in Zimbabwe as it
was the zenith of my dreams.
The Whiteheads have always had a good working relationship with the black Africans. Dozens of families
are employed on the ranch which boasts a store and gardens for the workers. In the town of Chiredzi, Whitro Engineering employs
several dozen more indigenous people. When there, I felt safe and secure without bars on the windows or having to lock the
door at night.
But on May 15, 2000, a report came to Gerry Whitehead about some vagabonds cutting down trees on
the ranch. Upon confronting them, Gerry was told the government had given permission for them to settle on the property. The
next day Gerry had a peaceful meeting at the ranch's store. There were threats that trouble would ensure if the Whiteheads
did not vacate the property. Gerry advised me to cancel my June vacation. (Coming with me would be my mother and two of her
relatives).
The remainder of 2000 saw Gerry finding wire snares, dead animals, and cut trees. He found those
responsible, arrested them, and took them to the police station. They were let go without charges. DISPOL (the district police)
were controlled by the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) and it was the government's wish the intruders
were not to be prosecuted, he was told. Daily sightings of vultures told the story--animals were being killed by the score.
The hundreds of impala, herds of zebra, eland, kudu, nyala, wildebeast, wart hogs, bushbuck, the majestic sable, giraffe,
and more, were in serious decline.
Gerry's diary for 2001 pictured a worsening situation. Since Gerry was a member of Movement for
Democratic Change (MDF) (the political party in opposition to Mugabe) he was
a target. His workers were threatened with beatings and death if they did not leave the ranch. Some of the workers were actually
members of the Central Intelligence Office who were funneling information back to the government.
What must be understood here is that it is not only violence toward whites but also toward black
Africans who are living in harmony with the whites. And, most of the "war vets" are too young to have participated in the
war of 1980. Most are lawless thugs who want free land. However, when the farmland is taken over, buildings are burnt, trees
cut, forests set afire, machinery destroyed, etc... in an orgy of destruction. Now, the land unable to be tilled and Zimbabwe
is on the edge of mass starvation.
In February the ranch was attacked, the Whitehead's home looted and the store for the workers was
destroyed. Workers were again threatened but many were staying as it was their home and they enjoyed their relationship with
the Whitehead family. Upon filing a complaint to the authorities, Gerry was cited for public violence and his property searched.
He was released from prison and found not guilty but while he was away packs of dogs began running down game on the ranch.
The dogs would chase and kill the animals and the poachers would locate the carcass by following the vultures to the kill.
They would take what they wanted and leave the remainder.
The year continued with more poaching with dogs and wire snares. There was also more destruction
of property and violence against the workers. Gerry continued to work toward saving his property and arrested violators when
he was able. No support was coming from the police and those arrested were soon back on the land. Gerry's life was threatened
on more than one occasion and workers who were held captive by the invaders overheard of plans to assassinate Gerry. The police
would not get involved.
Gerry Whitehead is the legal owner of the property and he wrote to the Amani Trust to investigate
the human rights violations. There was no response.
By the end of 2001 most of the fences were destroyed--the wire used for snares. It was estimated
over half of the animals on the ranch were now dead and the actual figure was probably higher. It amazes the author that there
is so much public outcry over legal and fair-chase hunting when no one is speaking up about the millions of animals who die
a slow and painful death from wire snares. An animal caught in a snare keeps fighting to free itself. The wire eventually
wears through the skin and bare flesh is exposed. Without food and water the animal dies slowly in a few agonizing days. If
fortunate to break free, many spend their remaining days minus a leg.
2002 saw a continuance of the year before. Gerry was shooting dogs when he could. Hundreds fell
to his aim but they were always replaced by more. The poaching, tree cutting, and destruction of property continued. One worker
who spoke up against the invaders was killed and on January 22 and two more were executed by the outlaw "vets". Again Gerry
wrote to the Amani Trust. And again, no reply. Requests for assistance in solving the murders went without investigation from
the local police.
By May, Gerry was informed his property had been divided into blocks for the war vets. Ten thousand
orange and grapefruit trees were to be divided among the vets. The cash crop of the ranch that provided funds for animal welfare
was and workers salaries and medical care was about to cease.
In August Gerry was arrested for not following the government's order to vacate the property. I
had been in South Africa in June and July and watched reports on the televised news where Mugabe made it illegal for a white
farmer to harvest crops or in any way improve or protect his land. (Can you imagine the world outcry if a white government
passed such a set of laws against black or other indigenous people?).
By the end of 2002 Gerry estimates 80 percent of the wildlife has been killed. Hundreds of snares
are found and destroyed but were soon replaced by others. Poacher's dogs continued to be shot by the dozen but they, too,
were replaced by others.
2003--More of the same. The Whiteheads finances are wiped out trying to salvage their property.
The engineering company in Chiredze is nearly bankrupt as there are so few farmers bringing in machinery for repair. Gerry's
son, his wife, and their daughters have departed for Australia to begin a life of security there. For Gerry, Zimbabwe is all
he knows as his family has lived there for several generations as has his wife, Rose. If he leaves,
he takes nothing with him--the law won't allow it. But every day he stays, his life is in jeopardy. Only a few impala can
be seen on the ranch's thousands of acres. The herds have all been killed.
Can Zimbabwe be saved? Can Marakanga return to its former glory? The answer is "YES" if the world
community can get involved and support those in need by pressuring the government to change the current policies. The human
rights violations (to both black and white) must stop.
Paradise Lost can be Paradise Regained. Can you help? Will you help?
