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The Correspondent film Zimbabwe: Hounded Out was broadcast on BBC Two on Sunday, 16 February, 2003 at 1800 GMT.

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I was basically forced out of Zimbabwe and live with my mother her boyfriend my brother and my cousins in England. My Dad is in Zimbabwe sitting on his farm with the bare essentials - a fridge, a cooker, a bed a TV and his bathroom. He is still in Zimbabwe trying to flee.

His whole labour force practically turned against him I know this is a commentary issue but I feel I have a responsibility to share with you my family's situation I cannot tell you my full name for obvious reasons.

Right now I cannot tell you if my father is alive or not - all I can tell you is that he is reaping his citrus and trying to earn some money to get out of Zimbabwe alive.

Zimbabwe is doomed to be a segregated and un-peaceful and unlawful country which has no hope - my heart goes out to my fellow Zimbabweans and I wish the best for every farmer like my Dad and every child of Zimbabwe like myself.

Ten 10 feet outside my Dads house there are children starving to death. The settlers have denied him the opportunity to grow crops in order to feed his labour force for the sole purpose of turning my Dads labour force against him. Thank you for the fact that the English cricket team refuse to play Zimbabwe.
Dane from Zimbabwe, 14, England

The Kay's film has been one of the most moving and anger-making programmes I have ever watched. I just want to say how much I admire them - their courage, their humanity, their compassion - particularly as shown to their refugee workers now struggling to merely survive. I, too, pray that there will soon be change in that beautiful country and that once again black and white people can live and work on the land in unity and the horrors that are currently occurring will end.
Carole Ramsay, UK

I was humbled by the strength of the Kays and their loyalty to their workers. And by the sense of humour shown by their workers - many times. I cannot believe this country is standing by and allowing this to happen - it is at least as bad if not worse than what happens in Iraq. My heart goes out to the Kays and their colleagues - I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through.
Carol Farr, UK

To the people of that beautiful country Zimbabwe, my abject apologies for the almost complete lack of support from my government. You had your democratic choice stolen from you. I hope your nightmare comes to an end soon.
Bernie Spicknell, UK

I do so hope that Kerry's optimism, expressed at the end, is justified

Sarah Greenhous

Regrettably this film demonstrates, all too graphically, how the international community has failed the people of Zimbabwe. The predominantly white countries of the commonwealth are frequently accused of colonialism and racism, yet, as this film demonstrates, by far the worst examples are happening daily in Africa. In Britain itself, we are constantly branded as a racist society by the politically correct to the point that we are made to feel guilty just for daring to wish that the asylum problem could be solved. Those that criticise us would be best advised to put their own house in order first.
Chris Sheldrake, England

The total white-owned farmlands in question constitute 5% of the country and were bought legally by the farmers. The Zimbabwean Government has had 20 years of opportunity to right the so-called wrong Mr Nze [see below] alleges. Indeed, shortly after the 1980 Zanu-Pf election victory, the Government issued a declaration of no interest in all the white-owned farmlands. If the Zanu-Pf were in any way sincere in their intentions, land distribution would have happened a long time ago, without violence and probably with the farmers' blessings.
Louis Brandt, UK

Excellent and very moving. What brave people! I do so hope that Kerry's optimism, expressed at the end, is justified.
Sarah Greenhous, England

I watched the program and found it an extremely moving record of the terrible events that have taken place in Zimbabwe. The Kay's resilience was quite extraordinary and I hope that Mrs Kay optimistic note at the end of the broadcast is proven to be correct. Good luck to them and the rest of the displaced people in the country.
Fergus Allan, Edinburgh, UK

The fact remains that this family were in possession of something that did not belong to them

Cletus Nze

Hooray for the bravery of people like the Kay family, Andrew Flowers and Henry Olonga. I only wish that the Cricket Board had the guts to admit that the issue of not sending the English Cricket team to Zimbabwe was a moral one and not a safety one. We should all be ashamed that the English Cricket World Cup Team had to make the decision themselves and had no backing from the Labour Government or the Cricket Board.
Janice Gilfillan, England

Being from Zimbabwe myself with my family still there I would like to thank you for viewing this and other programmes about Zimbabwe and making people aware of the reality of the situation. Hopefully one day something will be done to help. Please continue to support us!!!!
Lyndsey Bradnick, London

The Commonwealth should send observers here to Zimbabwe who are free to travel anywhere in the country, so they can see for themselves the results of this disaster that Mugabe has made. Those chaperoned by his government only get to see the "good bits". All they need to do is drive from Harare to Kariba to see huge areas that were once covered in crops but are now either empty or have a pathetic dying crop on them.
Neil Goodwin, Zimbabwe

The fact remains that this family were in possession of something that did not belong to them. It was robbed from Zimbabweans with the utmost violence, and had eventually to be returned.

It is sad the return has not been without violence, but for that there are more people to blame than Robert Mugabe
Cletus Nze, UK

The day Mugabe is kicked out of power, I will be on the next plane back home.

E Sithole, UK

People have to realise that what Mugabe stands for and what he has become are two quite distinct things. I think this programme shatters the illusion that this is all about land reform - at least for those few who might still believe that is what this was ever about. There will be land reform, and people like the Kays will be an integral part of it - as they are an integral part of Zimbabwe.
Mike Bennett

I think the Kays were really brave to film this programme. Judging by the documentary, they really were more concerned about the well-being of their workers than the loss of their home. I wish them well and hope that one day someone will have the guts to kick Mugabe out of power.

I am a black Zimbabwean who has been living in the UK for five years and there is no place like home. The day Mugabe is kicked out of power, I will be on the next plane back. I wish Blair and Bush were putting the same effort into overthrow Mugabe as they are on Saddam.
R E Sithole, United Kingdom

Why is the UN so eager to get involved in Iraq, but not Africa? Is it because we have no oil?

Russell and Liza Griffin, UK

What is happening in Zimbabwe deeply distresses, saddens, angers and dismays me. This programme was first-hand evidence confirming - to my disbelief - that the British Government are not doing anything to help people like the Kays and their workers!

What can British citizens do? Together we must be able to do something! The documentary was moving, powerful and eye-opening, especially as it was such a personal story to bring home the truth of what people have been going through these past years.
Carolyn Bodley, London, England

Why is the UN so eager to get involved in Iraq, but not Africa? Is it because we have no oil, or is a human life not worth more than fuel?

Being ex-South Africans, we are more aware of the situation in the region - which is currently being overlooked by the rest of the world. It saddens us greatly. Something needs to be done, so keep up the documentaries highlighting these problems for the rest of the world. How else will we know what's going on. Mugabe sure won't tell us.
Russell and Liza Griffin, United Kingdom

Mugabe's lust for power has brought nothing but suffering and ruin to all Zimbabweans. It is time that the UK Government took much firmer action - instead of the usual hand wringing. May God bless all those struggling for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.
RA Strudwick, UK

We feel the Kays' disappointment and despair, as we too are living in a country we can never call "home". Our roots are in Zimbabwe and we sadly leave behind a lifestyle and community that we remember with fondness - wishing in our hearts that our children could maybe one day, have the same special upbringing that we were so lucky to have experienced.
Shaun and Paula Jarvis, UK

It was very sad to see the waste of such a beautiful country. There probably needs to be some redistribution of the land, but unfortunately the workers do not have the education or skills to enable them to work the land. This is just Mugabe distributing the country's wealth to his cronies, but to what ends? The people will starve while he keeps himself in power.
Roger Burge, UK

I'm glad that thanks to this programme, others will now be able to see the madness of Mugabe's regime

Zoe Wright, UK

I would say that white Zimbabwean farmers had a duty to return a proportion of their vast farms to local blacks. However, I would strongly condemn Mugabe's land reform process. It is all about his power and greed and not about helping landless blacks. I would urge a new Zimbabwe Government to give back the farms to their white owners, but ensuring that each farm concedes land legally to help local black farmers.
Stuart Chappell, Wales

I was born and raised in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia, as it was then). My brother was forced off his land in August 2002. The farm was then handed over to two senior military personnel.
Charlie Churchill, USA

I have just been to Zimbabwe and live with seven Zimbos in London who can no longer be in the country they love. I'm glad that thanks to this programme, others will now be able to see the dreadful truths and the madness of Mugabe's regime.
Zoe Wright, UK

I think Zimbabwe is heading for the dungeon. The only way to avert this is to remove Mugabe - because he is the one who is damaging his own country. I'm a black Zimbabwean and I believe Zimbabwe has a hope if we just change the government. No one in Zimbabwe actually likes Mugabe, not even his own ministers.
Charity Magara, England

Brave isn't a strong enough word to describe [the Kays]

Chidhakwa, UK

Mugabe may be using the land dispute to brutalise the opposition and cling to power, but nevertheless, it is still 4,500 whites who control most of the fertile land in Zimbabwe, while the black majority has no access to their own land. I am not justifying the poor treatment of white Zimbabweans, but the way the BBC - and the British Parliament - presents the issue is so biased against Mugabe. This issue has to be presented in a historical context and I think the British media have failed to do that.
Michael Sam

The tears are still rolling down my face after watching the Kay documentary. I'm a white Zimbabwean, living in the UK as I am fortunate enough to have a British passport.

I was in Harare when Ian Kay was attacked and I take my hat off to him, his family, friends and all the workers for standing up for their rights. Brave isn't a strong enough word to describe them. My heart is so sore, even though I left Harare two and a half years ago - but at least I could leave. Thank you for showing the truth behind Zimbabwe.

It's such a pity that Tony Blair can't hear the cry for help coming from all Zimbabweans who really love their land.
Chidhakwa, UK

The programme made my blood boil like you cannot believe. Well done to the whole production team for bringing this subject to the attention of the British public, as I don't think the BBC has done much justice to this story until now. I hope lots of people watched. I will be praying for the Kays
Derryck Telfer, UK/South Africa

I do not agree with what Mugabe is doing, but I do not agree with the white way of life there either

L Luke, UK

I want to express my horror at a regime that takes away not only people's homes, but undermines a country's economy too. My I also express sympathy and admiration for the Kay family and those others who remain in Zimbabwe to rebuild their lives. The world has let them down.
Judith Wagner

It's sad to see anyone hounded out of their home. But would this programme have been aired had the boot been on the other foot, as it was when the land was originally taken from the blacks?

I was angered when a black woman walking away from the Kay's house with a sack on her head, had it pulled down by one of the Kays' employees because the Kays' son told him to "see what is in her sack".

When I worked in Zimbabwe I saw blacks spoken to like dirt regularly by whites. I do not agree with what Mugabe is doing, but I do not agree with the white way of life there either. Disappointingly, Correspondent was deeply one-sided.
L Luke, England

This is a personal thanks from me to the BBC for showing the courage of the Kays and their labourers. The UK government has been rather quiet.
Owen O'Connor, UK

As a young Zimbabwean - forced to flee my country - this programme is just another justification for the removal of the despot Mugabe. He has no regard for his own people. Political self-preservation has become the mainstay of his governance or lack of it. I am deeply concerned at the lack of action on the part of the international community.

The BBC has repeatedly shown programmes portraying the despair and alienation of the people of Zimbabwe - yet still their is no action. The West has the evidence to remove Mugabe and yet he still holds sway.
Gabz, United Kingdom

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