203:. During the case, Freeth, together with Mike and Angela Campbell, was abducted and beaten by Mugabe supporters. The tribunal eventually ruled in Freeth and Campbell's favour, finding that the Zimbabwean government's land repossessions were entirely racially based and, therefore, were in violation of the SADC's principles of human rights. The government of Zimbabwe was ordered to respect Freeth and Campbell's right to own and operate their farm.
188:. Under this programme, several thousand White-owned farms have been repossessed without compensation by the Zimbabwean government. While the stated intention of the programme is to redistribute land to disadvantaged Zimbabweans, many of the repossessed lands have been given to government officials and others loyal to the Mugabe regime. Subsequently, many of these farms have fallen into disrepair and are no longer active.
140:, England, United Kingdom, the son of a British military family. After the independence of the Republic of Zimbabwe in 1980, the family relocated to the country where Freeth's father had been hired by the Zimbabwean government to set up a new staff training college for the newly established national army. Freeth attended
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The Mugabe government ignored the ruling and later withdrew
Zimbabwe from the SADC. In August 2009, the Mount Carmel estate was invaded by Mugabe supporters and Freeth and Campbell's homes were burned down, as were the homes of the farm's workers and their families. The Freeths and Campbells, as well
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The Mount Carmel estate was described as a model employer. By the late 1990s, it had become the largest mango producer in
Zimbabwe. It also produced maize, tobacco and sunflowers and sustained the livelihoods of more than 500 local Zimbabwean people. In 1999, ownership of the farm was transferred to
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a family company by a "certificate of no interest" from the Mugabe government. Every farm bought after independence in 1980 had to be offered to the government first for possible land redistribution and then deeds were stamped "No
Government Interest" if the government did not wish to purchase it.
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Campbell purchased Mount Carmel from himself after independence (the full title was vested in 1999 when the
Zimbabwean government declared no interest in the land). Together, Freeth and Mike Campbell managed the farm's operations and employed a sizeable number of local farm labourers while Laura
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in
Gloucestershire, England, UK. He then returned to Zimbabwe and married Laura Campbell, the daughter of Rhodesian farmer Mike Campbell and his wife Angela. The Freeths built a house on the Campbells' 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) Mount Carmel estate in Chegutu and Freeth eventually became an
164:'s white minority government against Black nationalist guerrillas. He moved to Mount Carmel farm in 1974. He added a neighbouring plot of land in 1980, following Zimbabwean independence. As well as farming, Campbell set up an extensive nature reserve on the property, replete with giraffes,
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as their workers, were driven from the property. As of 2011, the Mount Carmel estate has become derelict and overgrown. Mike
Campbell died in April 2011, though Freeth has stated his intention to continue fighting to take back ownership of the property.
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In 2001, however, the
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and other indigenous animals. He also created the Biri River Safari Lodge, which became a popular tourist attraction.
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for violating the rule of law and human rights in
Zimbabwe. Freeth and Campbell's lawsuit against the Mugabe regime—
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Freeth and
Campbell chose to dispute the eviction order in court. After having been defeated in the
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oversaw a linen factory on the estate which employed many of the farm workers' wives.
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official with the
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108:, he rose to international prominence after 2008 for suing the regime of
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Racially motivated violence against white people in Africa
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in recognition of his human rights activism in Zimbabwe.
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Mike Campbell (Pvt) Ltd and Others v Republic of Zimbabwe
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farmer and human rights activist from the district of
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63:Commercial farmer and Human Rights activist
447:Members of the Order of the British Empire
240:Whites huddle and pray as mob closes in –
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254:Zimbabwe – White farms being torched –
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201:Southern African Development Community
427:People from Mashonaland West Province
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437:Zimbabwean people of English descent
152:During the early 1970s, Campbell, a
412:Prisoners and detainees of Zimbabwe
407:Zimbabwean prisoners and detainees
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417:Zimbabwean human rights activists
467:South African military personnel
371:Zimbabwean Farmer Awarded MBE –
357:Freeth Abducted in Zimbabwe –
195:, they took their case to the
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432:British emigrants to Zimbabwe
180:Lawsuit against Robert Mugabe
156:captain, was involved in the
345:Mugabe and the White African
144:and went on to study at the
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217:Order of the British Empire
92:(born 23 August 1971) is a
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422:Zimbabwean torture victims
347:, (documentary film) 2009.
199:, a regional court of the
146:Royal Agricultural College
442:People from Sittingbourne
330:Mike Campbell Obituary –
281:Mike Campbell Obituary –
193:Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
102:Mashonaland West Province
457:Alumni of Aiglon College
262:12 October 2013 at the
256:Meat Trade News Daily
186:land reform programme
462:20th-century farmers
110:Zimbabwean President
136:Freeth was born in
402:Zimbabwean farmers
158:Rhodesian Bush War
154:South African Army
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392:1971 births
386:Categories
312:25 January
304:. London:
227:References
132:Background
34:1971-08-23
22:Ben Freeth
219:by Queen
260:Archived
162:Rhodesia
76:Children
211:Honours
98:Chegutu
53:England
166:impala
68:Spouse
314:2012
49:Kent
28:Born
100:in
90:MBE
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