MENTAL health is a serious concern for everyone in this world.
There are more than 150 types of mental health problems which can be categorised into developmental, mood, anxiety, disruptive, obsessive-compulsive, psychotic, among others.
Chronic stress can lead to depression.
It should be understood that when stress becomes prolonged and overwhelming, it can negatively impact mental and physical health, potentially triggering or worsening depressive symptoms.
Depression can emerge to cause persistent feeling of sadness and changes in one thinking, sleep, eating habits and actions.
I am shocked as to why occupants of Warwick Farm are living under incessant psychological trauma emanating from uncertainty about ownership of the land they have settled on for over 23 years after the farm was gazetted in 2000 during the peak of land invasions.
The occupants are mainly veterans of the liberation struggle, their families and other senior citizens who displaced the former owner of the farm, Tim Johnson, more than two decades ago.
As far as I know, a gazetted farm under Schedule 7 like Warwick automatically becomes agricultural land.
- Mental health must be a priority at our workplaces
- ‘Art therapy critical in combating mental disorders’
- Be ethical, Potraz tells content creators
- How HR can effectively handle employee depression
Keep Reading
Schedule 7 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, inserted by the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2005, lists agricultural land that was identified for acquisition and vested in the State before July 8, 2005.
It boggles my mind that State land was suddenly transferred to an individual who is now threatening the settlers with eviction claiming the farm belongs to him.
Thorough investigations should be carried out to ascertain how State land was changed to private land and the Lands ministry should avail all the necessary information as a matter of urgency.
NewsDay carried solemn articles of settlers being threatened, NRTV had the story of Warwick Farm settlers being harassed by the so-called land owner, while The Standard newspaper carried stories of the harrowing events at the farm, alas, government seems to be moving at a snail’s space to bring closure to the issue.
I read in the NewsDay of March 7 that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga was at one time grossly perturbed by the Warwick Farm issue.
It seems there are shady deal that if properly investigated, may expose massive corruption at many farms in the country.
There was noise at a farm in Chegutu, pandemonium at a Chinhoyi farm where settlers had their houses razed to the ground despite them having been there for over two decades and one wonders why government remains silent when such things are happening.
The country should not wait for Youth Development minister Tino Machakaire to blow the trumpet, general citizens’ concerns should be given urgent attention.
For sure, authorities give a deaf ear when the poor and marginalised speak out even if their rights are being trampled upon.
Warwick Farm settlers are going through difficult times because of lack of concrete plans for their future.
Those with high blood pressure may worsen their conditions and get complications like stroke, heart failure, renal failure or even death.
Since there has been laxity on the part of the Lands ministry to solve the Warwick Farm dispute for over a decade now, it is prudent that the presidium takes action and brings closure to the matter.
If money exchanged hands, this is the time for investigating authorities like the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, police to prove their mettle.
Lessons should be learnt from one former mayor of Harare who was arrested last month for abuse of office when he was in at the helm more than 13 years ago.
If there are officers or ministers stifling investigations today, time will come when they will be hauled before the courts.
Everyone will be keenly following how the Warwick Farm issue unfolds.
- Johannes Marisa is a medical practitioner who is the current president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe.
