Hay Festival 2011: Henning Mankell blames Zimbabwe's white farmers

Here's an inventive way to raise awareness for books you’ve authored - just grab onto a controversial subject of the day and spew forth - whether it's true or not. Some Swedish author, who I've thankfully never heard of, has decided that the White farmers of Zimbabwe are to blame for the plight of the country today. And here we were under the impression that Mugabe and his failed policies were to blame but luckily Mr Liberal Tosser has come to the rescue and blamed Whitey again. Henning Mankell, who has lived in Africa for 25 years - apparently with his eyes closed the entire time - says that if only the farmers hadn't been arrogant and negotiated with Mugabe in the early 1980s then none of the subsequent events would have happened – events which have ruined the country (I somehow don't think Mr Mankell's lift goes to the top floor and he may be one short of a six pack). Mr Mankell should rather stick to writing fiction and leave history to the big people before he hurts himself. In any case, I suppose I should point out a few things to Mr Mankell that he's missed whilst living in his African bubble. Firstly, what exactly should the farmers have done back in the 1980s? The farmers had invested in their property, grown profitable crops, created jobs and provided taxation revenue for the country. In essence, they were the backbone of the economy and country. In comparison, Black subsistence farmers only grow for the next month's crop, invest nothing, and earn nothing. Just barely survive. Do you honestly think that the farmers should have just handed over their hard work to some savage war veterans, fresh out of the bush? Here's a scenario for you in lay terms (hopefully you can understand this, so read it slowly): You write a book that takes 5 years hard work and research to complete. Along comes a bully and tells you that the book is now his to do with as he pleases. According to you, you'd sit back and accept it without a fight because you’re that type of guy? Secondly, Zimbabwe is a huge country. If Mugabe wanted to appease his 'war' veterans, then he could have given them thousands of hectares of unused land for their farms. Why didn't he? Why target established, successful farms, belonging to White farmers? Thirdly, why is Zimbabwe the hell-hole it is today if the majority of the successful farms have been in the war veteran’s hands for over a decade? These weren't virgin farms, but huge, successful enterprises already trading with the rest of the world. You see Mr Mankell - Mugabe is actually doing fine. He has achieved his goal. He has an impoverished, desperate, starving nation who are only too grateful for any handouts they receive from him; and in thanks, they will do anything he wants of them so that they and their children don't starve. If you're still unsure of why Zimbabwe happened then wonder no more - Zimbabwe is the end result of Marxism. So, Mr Mankell, if it makes you sell a few more books to your fellow-liberal plonkers, then you go right ahead and keep repeating your lies. Me? I'll just keep fighting the good fight by exposing your type as the hypocrites you are. Oh, and Mr Mankell – I hope nothing happens to the next ‘Gaza Flotilla’ you board. We would surely miss your witty, stimulating intellect.

Hat tip: Julian B

The delusional, Henning Mankell

 

White farmers in Zimbabwe must shoulder the blame for the plight of Zimbabwe, according to one of the world's best-selling authors.

Henning Mankell, creator of the Wallander detective series, has lived in Africa for the past 25 years. The Swedish writer is known for his strident political views and told an audience at Hay that Robert Mugabe should not be painted as the sole villain of the piece.

Since 2000, Mugabe has systematically seized land from the country's white farmers, precipitating the country's economic collapse.

In a provocative talk, Mankell said: "In the early 1980s, every year Mugabe went and talked to white farmers and said, 'It's necessary for us to sit down and talk about the farms here'. And the reaction he got from white farmers was absolutely none. He tried year after year after year, and the only thing he was met by was arrogance. In the end, it became a very bad situation.

"I think when history is written, the white farmers at the beginning of the 1980s also have to take responsibility and blame for what really happened. Otherwise, when history is written people will believe that Mugabe was always crazy. He was not.

"Of course, today I hope that someone takes him out of the position he's in because he is destroying the country. But if white farmers had listened to him at the start of the 1980s, I think the situation for Zimbabwe would have been much better."

Mankell is also a noted pro-Palestinian activist and was on the Gaza flotilla that was attacked by Israeli forces in May last year, leaving nine activists dead.

Despite the risks, he plans to join another flotilla this year. "I can tell you there will be another flotilla and I will go with it again because the Palestinians need all the support we can give them," he said.

"There will be some politicians on board. There are no politicians from Britain yet but I can assure you we could find space for them."

Mankell's fictional detective was brought to life by the BBC in a series starring Kenneth Branagh. The 63-year-old author said he was exasperated by literary critics who dismissed crime writing as a lesser form of writing.

He said: "It's a bit embarrassing that I have to explain to these guys that crime fiction is one of the oldest literary genres that exists. Go back 2,000 years to Greece and a story called Medea - a woman who murders her two children out of jealousy for her husband. If that's not a crime story, I don't know what is."

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