Evicted farmer starts Zimbabwe appeal

Millions of farmers are being forced from their homes

A farmer who fled Zimbabwe after being shot at and driven from his land has launched a campaign to help his fellow countrymen.

Mark Young, now lives in Raglan, Monmouthshire, after he was evicted from his farm in the African country under the controversial Land Redistribution Programme.

Mark Young wants to help people start again

Under Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, white farmers are being violently forced from their land to give to black farmers.

Mr Young launched Zimbabwe Hope on Friday with the support of his local Assembly Member David Davies.

The scheme aims to highlight in Britain the plight of families affected by the Mugabe regime.

Mr Young, who was beaten and shot at while helping a neighbour in his homeland, believes it is vital to keep reminding the world about what President Mugabe is doing in the country.

"He is kicking two million people out of their homes and jobs to make room for maybe a couple of thousand of his friends and family," said Mr Young.

President Robert Mugabe wants to evict white farmers

Since Mr Young left Zimbabwe he has restarted his life as a builder but thousands more white farmers have been given notice to leave their land.

Monmouthshire MP David Davies said it is not just white people who are suffering.

"Many black people from different ethnic groups or who don't support Robert Mugabe are being treated in a most appalling fashion.

"They are facing rape and genocide and ultimately will face starvation," he added.

Political criticism

Zimbabwe's white farmers own much of the country's best agricultural land.

The situation was created in colonial times when blacks were forced off their ancestral lands.

The land redistribution programme has been widely criticised by political leaders.

Britain recently warned Zimbabwe faces a mounting humanitarian crisis which it blames directly on Mr Mugabe.

Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw called for and end to the "madness and badness" of Mr Mugabe from impacting on ordinary people.

He said the crisis affected both white farmers and their black employees who were also being thrown off their land.

"What we have to do... is to support the forces of democracy in Zimbabwe meanwhile, to sustain the people against starvation and, increasingly, to isolate the Mugabe regime," the British minister said.