Mike Campbell (farmer)
William Michael Campbell (b. 12 October 1932 in Klerksdorp, South Africa; d. 8 April 2011 in Harare, Zimbabwe) was a white farmer and human rights activist in Zimbabwe who became internationally known during the persecutions of Whites in Zimbabwe.
Contents
Life
Campbell's family have been farmers in Africa since 1713. He was an early conservationist, concerned with maintaining the African wildlife. As well as farming, Campbell set up an extensive nature reserve on his property. The farm employed around 500 people and was a centre of agriculture, wildlife and tourism. During the early 1970s, Campbell, a SADF captain, was involved in the Rhodesian Bush War that pitted Rhodesia's predominantly white government against communist-backed guerrillas. He moved to Mount Carmel farm in 1974. He added a neighbouring plot of land in 1980. As well as farming, Campbell set up an extensive nature reserve on the property, replete with giraffes, impala and other indigenous animals. He also created the Biri River Safari Lodge, which became a popular tourist attraction. The 3000 acre farm near Chegutu (named Hartley until 1982), located 80 miles south-west of Harare, employed around 500 people and was a centre of agriculture, wildlife and tourism. Campbell was an early conservationist, concerned with maintaining the African wildlife.
In 1999, 19 years after Zimbabwe's independence, the government declared that it had "no interest" in the farm and granted Campbell full ownership of the land. However, over the following decade, Zimbabwe's "land reform" gathered pace. Invaders gradually took over Campbell's farm; they burned down the safari lodge and farmstead, and killed all the cattle and wildlife on the farm. Malaria then spread into the region and killed 11 workers, as well as Campbell's pregnant daughter-in-law. Hundreds of Campbell's workers lost their jobs. Campbell's farm manager and other workers were arrested and tortured by the police after they attempted to defend the farm. Campbell, his wife, and son-in-law were violently assaulted in 2008. Campbell's family stated that he died from complications of the 2008 assault.
Campbell and his family became internationally known while attempting to legally challenge the persecutions, both in Zimbabwe and internationally, one effect being a 2008 formal victory at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal. However, this was in practice ignored in Zimbabwe, and increased extrajudicial persecutions. In 2011, the SADC Tribunal was in effect suspended at an "Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC".
A court in South Africa in 2011 cleared the way for seized Zimbabwean government assets in Cape Town to be sold by auction to compensate three Zimbabwean farmers, including the late Mike Campbell.
Mugabe and the White African is a 2009 documentary on the events.
Death
Campbell died at his temporary home in Harare on 8 April 2011 at home.[1][2] He is survived by his wife Angela, his children Bruce, Cathy and Laura, and 6 grandchildren.[3] Campbell's family stated that he died from complications of the 2008 beating.[4]
External links
References
- ↑ "Obituary – Mike Campbell". The Telegraph. 8 April 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/8439131/Mike-Campbell.html. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ↑ Dugger, Celia (10 April 2011). "Mike Campbell, Zimbabwean Farmer Who Fought Land Seizure, Dies at 78". NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/world/africa/11campbell.html. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ↑ "Mugabe and the White African: Film Update". POV (PBS). 25 July 2011. http://www.pbs.org/pov/mugabe/film_update.php. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ↑ Dixon, Robyn (8 April 2011). "Mike Campbell dies at 78; white Zimbabwean challenged seizure of lands". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/08/local/la-me-mike-campbell-20110408.
