Mugabe and the White African

Mugabe and the White African is a hard-hitting documentary that delves into the controversial land reform policies in Zimbabwe under the regime of President Robert Mugabe. The film, released in 2009, was directed by Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson and shot in a cinéma vérité style, providing an immersive observation of a tense and fraught situation in the African nation.

The story is centered around Mike Campbell, a white Zimbabwean farmer, and his family as they become the central figures in a high-profile international court challenge against Mugabe's government. The film's title refers to the derogatory term used by Mugabe's supporters to describe white farmers in Zimbabwe, a legacy of the country's colonial past when it was known as Rhodesia.

The movie opens with an introduction to Campbell's history and his deep connection to the land he works on. Despite the increasing political instability and violence erupting around them, the Campbell family is adamant about staying in Zimbabwe. Instead of fleeing like many others, they decide to fight for their rights and take a stand against what they see as illegal land seizures based on racial discrimination.

The backdrop of the film is the land reform program initiated by Mugabe, which ostensibly aimed to correct colonial-era imbalances in land ownership. This controversial program, begun in 2000, involved the forcible acquisition of white-owned farms and their redistribution to black Zimbabweans. However, the execution of this program was marred by violence, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to a dramatic decline in agricultural productivity and a steep economic downturn in Zimbabwe.

The central narrative thrust of Mugabe and the White African is the legal battle that Mike Campbell and his son-in-law Ben Freeth take to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal, a regional court in Namibia. They argue that the land reform program is discriminatory and that it violates human rights, as well as the rule of law. The film provides an intimate look at the emotional and physical toll this legal fight takes on the family, as they face intimidation, harassment, and violence from government loyalists.

The documentary doesn't just focus on the court case; it also paints a broader picture of life in Zimbabwe during Mugabe's controversial rule. Viewers are given insight into the everyday challenges faced by the farm workers and their families, who are caught in the crosshairs of a politically charged environment. The cinematography captures Zimbabwe's stunning landscapes contrasted starkly with the tension and fear that permeate the lives of those featured in the film.

Throughout the documentary, the filmmakers maintain a sense of urgency and immediacy by including close-up interviews, on-the-ground footage of the confrontations between the Campbells and the government, and scenes that demonstrate the disruptions to the agricultural sector. These personal accounts are juxtaposed with the more formal setting of the legal battle, conveying the broader implications of the Campbell family's struggle.

Despite the inherent risks, Bailey and Thompson were determined to record the events unfolding in Zimbabwe, often using hidden cameras to capture the raw and unfiltered experiences of the Campbell family and their community. This behind-the-scenes look offers a glimpse into the dangers faced not only by the documentary subjects but also by the filmmakers themselves as they navigate a politically sensitive and dangerous landscape.

Mugabe and the White African was received by critics as a potent, thought-provoking documentary that unequivocally challenges the viewer to confront complex issues of race, power, and justice in a post-colonial context. The film brought international attention to the plight of white farmers in Zimbabwe while also raising questions about broader human rights abuses under Mugabe's regime.

This poignant documentary provides an in-depth examination of a charged and tragic chapter in Zimbabwe's history, giving voice to those who experienced the painful consequences of a deeply flawed and violent land policy. As a cinematic piece, Mugabe and the White African stands as both a powerful testament to the human capacity for resilience and a sobering reflection on the legacy of colonialism and the struggles for racial equality in Africa.